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Clerodendrum trichotomum

Also Known As

Glory Bower
Harlequin Glorybower
Peanut Butter Tree

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 10'-15'
W: 10'-15'

planting zones

6a-10b

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Clerodendrum trichotomum plant details

Clerodendrum trichotomum is a broadleaf deciduous shrub or tree with green foliage. In fall and summer white flowers emerge followed by black, blue and red fruit. Grows well with sun and regular water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Clerodendrum trichotomum

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: lamiaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 10 FT - 15 FT - wide, 10 FT - 15 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in fall and summer
Uses: fragrant, showy seedheads, small tree

GROWING CONDITIONS for Clerodendrum trichotomum

USDA Zones: 6a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This delightfully fragrant shrub from China and Japan, is a coarse, somewhat rangy, suckering specimen reaching 10-20' tall. It can be trained to grow as a tree, though it is infrequently seen growing in that form. Most often grown for its wonderful late summer into fall blooms; tubular white flowers which smell deliciously of nicotiana and lilies. After the blooms, bright-pink, showy, star-shaped calyces each hold a single blue berry. The green leaves produce a unique aroma when crushed; it is somewhat reminiscent of peanut butter and gives this shrub its common name of 'peanut butter tree'. A fine specimen for the fragrant garden! S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

A denizen of China and Japan, this exotic large deciduous shrub has a big impact. Clothed with fuzzy dark green oval leaves, the sparse upright branches and pendulous lower ones define its elegant, often multitrunked silhouette. Gracefully drooping terminal panicles of slightly upturned white flowers make a sweetly perfumed late summer appearance. Tended by large pinkish green prominently ribbed calyxes, the blooms age to a pale mauve and are followed by extraordinary jewel-like, small steel blue fruit cradled in star-shaped magenta calyxes. Harlequin Glorybower is a sublime contender for the mixed border or a large patio pot, where it fancies full sun and moist well-drained soil.

By: Digging Dog Nursery

Small-stature, slowly maturing to about 12 ft. Strongly fragrant flowers give it appeal, but most interesting are its unique fruits, a shiny steel blue at first, borne above a calyx of bright red. Asian native, not hardy in colder climates, but because it is small and unique, merits wider use where it's adapted.

By: Heritage Seedlings

Fragrant white, tubular flowers with red calyxes late summer, leaves smell like peanut butter. USDA zones 7-10

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Harlequin Glory Bower is an attention grabber. Covered with very fragrant white flowers in the summer, its fall display is even better: electric blue berries are held in a plastic (looking) pink calyces. The tree rarely gets more than 15' and is often as wide as it is tall. zone 6

By: Whitman Farms

Upright small shrub (can be pruned to a tree in warmer zone) that is so stunning in bloom or in berry that you will stop dead in your tracks! We did, the first time we saw it. Flowers start into July and continue even as the berries start to form. The berries are even more stunning that the flowers. Yup, that's right. Needs some shade from the mid-day sun. MOBOT says Zone 7-9 but U. of Arkansas says zone 6-9 however, it's hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit according to Kew Gardens. This would be Zone 7 so Zone.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

This deciduous shrub or small tree is native to Japan. The soft, fuzzy and slightly heart-shaped 5" leaves are a dark green. In late summer, fragrant white tubular flowers are almost twice as long as the showy scarlet calyx on the back of the flower. The scarlet calyx lasts and lasts after the flower falls, until the pleasing blue-green metallic looking fruit is formed, making a most interesting contrast. In cold climates it may freeze to the ground but will come back each year like a perennial. Will grow to be a 10' shrub or can be trained as a small tree. Can be slow to fruit and flower depending on the growing conditions. An unusual and rarely seen plant!

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

A perfectly good street tree for Portland, though seldom used, with sweet smelling, white flowers in large summer, perfuming the neighborhood especially at night. Turquoise berries framed by crimson bracts add to fall fun. Foliage is aromatic as well -- think peanut butter. To 10 ft tall or so in full sun for best flowers and fruits and water occasionally in summer. Planting in reach of a lawn mower eliminates pesky suckers. Easily frost hardy in USDA zone 7.

By: Cistus Nursery

A fun small tree to 12-'15' somewhat umbrella shaped with heart shaped leaves that smell of peanut butter when bruised. Fantastic late summer very fragrant white flowers followed by blue fruit backed by a maroon calyx is such a seductive package that we forgive the suckering.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Lily-scented white summer flowers perfume warm evenings on this 10–12' deciduous shrub/tree. Wonderfully unusual bright pink puffy star-shaped fruit have a metallic bright blue bead in the center! This plant breaks dormancy very late in spring so don't worry that it's met its demise; it will come around just when you start to give up on it.

Clerodendrum trichotomum plant details

CHARACTERISTICS OF Clerodendrum trichotomum

GROWING CONDITIONS for Clerodendrum trichotomum

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Garden photo gallery of Clerodendrum trichotomum

Gardening facts about Clerodendrum trichotomum plant

How to Grow Clerodendrum trichotomum

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