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Harlequin Glorybower Clerodendrum trichotomum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
kle-ro-DEN-drum tri-ko-TO-mum
Description

Harlequin glorybower is an open, unkempt, multi-stemmed shrub. Plant in full sun to light shade in, well-drained soil.  Mulch the roots heavily in the fall to protect them through the winter, otherwise, they may not survive.   This plant has fragrant white flowers on 6-9 in. racemes in summer.  When the leaves are crushed they give off a peanut butter fragrance, hence one of the common names.  Flowers are followed by bright blue drupes. Use as a hedge for privacy screening, in a shrub border or along the margin of a woodland garden.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Banana Beds
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Betty Stiles'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#fall flowers#white flowers#shrub#fragrant leaves#deciduous shrub#fall interest#flowering tree#airy#summer flowers#delicate#vibrant#showstopper#victorian garden#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Betty Stiles'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#fall flowers#white flowers#shrub#fragrant leaves#deciduous shrub#fall interest#flowering tree#airy#summer flowers#delicate#vibrant#showstopper#victorian garden#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Clerodendrum
    Species:
    trichotomum
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Asia
    Play Value:
    Fragrance
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Irregular
    Open
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Bright blue fruits with red fleshy caylx
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Description:
    Late summer to fall blooming tubular white showy, fragrant flowers appear in long-peduncled cymes 6"-9" wide.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Lustrous, dark green leaves; 4"-8" long; simple, ovate to elliptic; entire or sparsely toothed. Crushed leaves smell like peanut butter.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Garden for the Blind
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Small Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Urban Conditions