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Cleyera japonica is often confused with:
Ternstroemia gymnanthera Ternstroemia gymnanthera
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Camellia sasanqua Camellia sasanqua
Nerium oleander Flower Form

Sakaki Cleyera japonica

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
klay-YER-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh
Description

Prefers well-drained soili in the full sun though appreciates afternoon shade in hot summers.  Will tolerate almost full sade and established shrubs tolerate drought.  Do plant in an area with some protection from strong winds.  They work well as a foundation planting, in a shrub border, as a hedge or privacy screen.

Family name previously Theaceae

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fortunei'
'Fortunei'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#white flowers#low maintenance#winter interest#hedges#privacy#flowering shrub#shrub border#foundation planting#screening#black fruits#fantz#leathery leaves
 
cleyera japonica form by skdavidson
form newly planted Wilmington, NC skdavidson CC BY-SA 2.5
cleyera japonica leaf skdavidson
leaf skdavidson CC BY-SA 2.5
cleyera japonica new leaf by skdavidson
new leaf skdavidson CC BY-SA 2.5
Cleyera japonica
'Fortunei' Bud Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
young and mature leaves, early summer, Durham County, NC
young and mature leaves, early summer, Durham County, NC Carol Tierney CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fortunei'
'Fortunei'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#white flowers#low maintenance#winter interest#hedges#privacy#flowering shrub#shrub border#foundation planting#screening#black fruits#fantz#leathery leaves
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cleyera
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Pentaphylacaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    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:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Description:
    Shiny black fruits
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Leathery leaves resemble camellias.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy