Ternstroemia gymnanthera
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tern-STROE-mee-uh jim-NANTH-er-uh
- Description
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Japanese ternstroemia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the Pentaphylax family (Pentaphylaceae) . It is native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, India, and Borneo. The Latin name Ternstroemia comes from the Swedish naturalist Christopher Ternstroem, a student of Linnaeus who died in 1748.
This shrub can be located in full sun to partial shade; however, it does its best when situated in part shade. Winter burn may occur in full sun. It prefers moist and well-drained soil and is intolerant to poorly drained or wet sites. It is moderately drought tolerant. Growing best in acidic soils, the shrub’s leaves will yellow when the soil is alkaline. It grows from 8 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide and can be allowed to grow into a large shrub or kept small through regular pruning. Its slow growth rate may make pruning unnecessary, though. To encourage a more compact habit, pinch new growth. Salt spray tolerant, this shrub is an excellent choice for the North Carolina coastal areas.
Japanese ternstroemia or false Japanese cleyera is very similar and often mistakenly sold as Cleyera japonica. It is often planted as a substitute for the problem-plagued red tip photinia and the Leyland cypress.
The shrub is typically cultivated for its attractive growth habit and tiered branches. Juvenile leaves emerge bronze to reddish, turning dark green as the leaves mature. Fall foliage appears bronze. Use it as a screen, a specimen, and in large borders.
Quick ID Hints:
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This shrub is upright, dense, and oval, 8 to 10 feet fall, and 5 to 6 feet wide
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Branches are tiered, leaves appear crowded or whorled at tips.
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evergreen leaves with red petioles
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non-showy creamy white flowers in the spring
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oval green fruits that ripen to red in the fall
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scale can be an occasional problem. Monitor for leaf spots. Winter leaf scorching can occur in full sun.
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
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- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bigfoot'
Large, upright plant with glossy light green leaves. - 'Bronze Beauty'
Bronze new growth and red/bronze fall color. - 'Burnished Gold'
Golden new growth fades to bronzy/green. - 'Carolina Sunset'
compact, new growth in tones of yellow and red - 'Le Ann'
Orange/red new growth matures to deep green. - 'Regal'
Dense, compact and rounded. Matures to upright multi-trunked. - 'Variegata'
Dark green leaves with a creamy yellow edge turn pink in winter.
- 'Bigfoot'
- 'Bigfoot', 'Bronze Beauty', 'Burnished Gold', 'Carolina Sunset', 'Le Ann', 'Regal', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bigfoot'
Large, upright plant with glossy light green leaves. - 'Bronze Beauty'
Bronze new growth and red/bronze fall color. - 'Burnished Gold'
Golden new growth fades to bronzy/green. - 'Carolina Sunset'
compact, new growth in tones of yellow and red - 'Le Ann'
Orange/red new growth matures to deep green. - 'Regal'
Dense, compact and rounded. Matures to upright multi-trunked. - 'Variegata'
Dark green leaves with a creamy yellow edge turn pink in winter.
- 'Bigfoot'
- 'Bigfoot', 'Bronze Beauty', 'Burnished Gold', 'Carolina Sunset', 'Le Ann', 'Regal', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ternstroemia
- Species:
- gymnanthera
- Family:
- Pentaphylacacaeae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan, Korea, China
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Screening
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Salt spray tolerant, can tolerate severe pruning.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are oval shaped and measure 0.5 to inches long. They mature from green to red in the fall. The individual fruits are quite attractive; however, they are not showy because of the low number of fruits and their location behind the foliage.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The creamy white flowers are small, 0.5 inches wide, and borne in the leaf axils on the previous year's wood or on short spurs. They may appear solitary or in clusters. in the late spring. The petals may have red pigmentation along the edges. The 5 petals are fleshy and obovate. They have 5 sepals and numerous stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are alternate, simple, leathery, and lustrous. They are dark green on the upper surface and paler on the undersides. They measure 2.5 to 4 inches long. The new growth is bronzy red in the spring. The leaves may become bronze in the winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are thin, rusty gray, glabrous with sympodial growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Patio
- Pond
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
