Clerodendrum Species, Harlequin Glory Bower, Japanese Clerodendrum, Peanut Butter Shrub

On Aug 30, 2017, nothingfails from YAMBOL UPPER THRACE,
Bulgaria (Zone 7b) wrote:

NOT FOR HOT DRY CLIMATES! I got a 1,5m tree from England. It started flowering for me in what would be US zone 7b in South East Bulgaria in mid August. The first time I smelled its open flowers in the evening it smelled like jasmine but it was less and less intense the following times. The flowers do not open at once but one after another so the view is not that attractive nor the scent wafting. In the end the scent is more like of an overripe fruit ready to rot. Also, the tree has no drought tolerance. It needs watering every day otherwise the leaves are drooping and could burn in the scorching Southern sun. Not bad but nothing overwhelming my senses and watering would be problematic. Will see in future years how it would do with more developed roots... Have uploaded a photo of the open ... read moresingle flowers - not bad indeed.

Update. The plant was late to emerge. 4/5ths of the plant was dead after the winter which was rather mild and the temp. plunged to -11C (12F) once on 1 March. New growth emerges from the lower part of the trunk. There are new shoots from the ground, too, but not sure if these are suckerings or seedlings...

Update. Now by late September it has not flowered. Was struggling all summer with heat and droughr. Watered every day and still its leaves would droop in the afternoon the hottest part of the day even being in shade by then.

On Oct 12, 2015, nathanieledison from Santa Rosa, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

I was always under the impression that many clerodendrums were borderline hardy in my hometown near San Francisco, but was pleasantly surprised to find a patch of these plants growing happily at the Arboretum near Boston, MA.

Fun, rewarding plants if you give them good, rich soil and enough water.

On Aug 11, 2015, Jennigma from Seattle, WA (Zone 9a) wrote:

My neighbor has one of these. It's gorgeous and smells delightful, and suckers like mad. It also releases masses of seeds which are spreading down the hill into little matts of their own. Quite impressively aggressive.

It's winning against Himalayan Blackberry, which gives me pause. The neighbor has offered me as many suckers as I would care to dig, but I'm a bit cautious about spreading it.

On Oct 11, 2013, teatimecarole from Asheboro, NC wrote:

My son gave me my "sprout" about 3 years ago. It is now a small tree and has brought us a lot of enjoyment - more this year than ever. It has all seasons of beautiful blooms and berries and has a nice peanut-butter smell when you crush the leaves. The butterflies LOVE it, the Hummingbirds LOVE it and I have just discovered the birds must LOVE it as well as I just now discovered at least 8 birds (all different kinds) on the branches. I guess they are eating the berries. I will try to post a picture. Here in NC this summer, we have had a lot of rain so also had a lot of sprouts popping up that we are trying to share with others.

On Jan 22, 2013, LoriGrant from Victoria,
Canada wrote:

I love this plant and it's amazing and unique smell. It grows perfectly in my climate and is very tall and has not spread too much or reproduced or sent out shoots.
I just don't know when to prune them or how severely a prune they can handle. Also, they haven't flowered despite how healthy they are. Help please :)

On Sep 19, 2012, RosinaBloom from Waihi,
New Zealand (Zone 1) wrote:

Quote from Davesgarden "Latin Word of the Week"
19 Sept 12012
The name Clerodendrum is an oddity in the Botanical world. It is derived from the Greek kleros (chance) and dendron (tree) and logic would dictate it should be written as Clerodendron to follow the standard rules of botanical nomenclature. Some sources spell it as such, but the accepted is Clerodendrum.

The genus contains about 400 species, most of them native to Asia and Africa. They are generally tender perrenials, and only a handful of them are widely cultivated.

On Jul 11, 2011, trynfindit from Jacksonville, FL wrote:

INVASIVE !!!

This plant will come up EVERYWHERE (thanks to birds, squirrels, the wind, you name it) and it's impossible to get rid of.

On May 10, 2011, blm1067 from Ripon, CA wrote:

My mother had this plant while she was living in Wilsonville, Oregon. Once she gave me a sapling, i have had it in a pot for the past 7 years or more. After seeing this on here, I am eager to plant it. I would love to see it grow into a tree, mine is about 3-4 feet tall. Every fall it looses it's leaves and every spring it comes back.

On May 25, 2007, drekadair from Wilsonville, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:

When we moved into our house our neighbors had one of these planted near the fence. That one tree has now become three without any help, and several have tried to move into our yard. It is fast-growing and somewhat invasive, but it is one of my favorite trees. It flowers late in summer, around August, and produces the most heavenly smell imaginable. The dark blue berries last all through winter if the birds don't eat them--the robins love them.

On Jul 24, 2003, Waterguy wrote:

I really love this tree, but very, very invasive in Virginia Beach, VA. Planted 2 about 2' in height and 4 years later I have 6 at about 12' to 18' and countless sprouts in my yard I must pull up through out the year. Non stop Butterfly interaction. BUT I must get to the sprouts quickly, they grow very fast and in any place---like the rose of sharon.... I am experimenting with shaping, and I am amazed at the different ways I can make them look!!!

Hard work keeping after them. If I let them go they would take over my yard and make it a forest in no time!!

On Jun 15, 2003, AmyERichardson wrote:

Lovely shrub that blooms in mid-summer when many other shrubs have finished. Blooms are very fragrant and attract mobs of butterflies. The leaves smell badly if crushed. Mine grows in Maryland at the edge of woodland and is about 15 feet tall. Uniquely colored calaxes and berries provide nice fall interest. I've never noticed birds eating them, though. Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania has at least two nice specimens. A real treat to have in the garden. A hardy plant that's pretty, too boot.

On Oct 25, 2002, Wilddande wrote:

Wow! A freeze-tolerant tropical with lovely gray-green foliage, beautiful floral umbels of white - pink blossoms that attract butterflies from miles around, and easy enough for a 3rd grader to grow! We obtained ours from the nearby Mercer Arboretum during a tropicals symposium there, about 6 years ago, as a bare rooted limp thing that had been unceremoniously yanked from the good Mercer ground earlier that day. We put it in our deep sandy loam here at our place, under partial shade, and here it has thrived. Our soil tends to be rather acidic, easily leached, with a resultant thin humic layer. If there is a knock on this plant, it is that it is almost too easy to propogate. In the 6 years we've had this plant, its blue-black berries have given rise to half a dozen more within a 10' radius o... read moref the original. However, I have had no problem hawking these at plant swaps, etc. Mention "butterfly magnet" and they're gone!

On Jul 22, 2002, Chili from Raleigh, NC wrote:

Unique flower/calyx/seed combo stops traffic. A very large example (15'x15') was recently removed here (Raleigh, NC) and was an outstanding small tree. Flowers start as cream colored buds in July then open as soft pink/white. Gradually, the calyx swells a bright magenta and the seed is a bright blue. Gives appearance of two separate flowering cycles lasting several months. Late frosts here in 7b-8a have done some damage, but not significant. Butterflies go right past the buddleia nearby and hover over this by the hundreds. Numerous "pass-alongs" in Johnston Co. NC have performed very well, I am told.