Clerodendrum trichotomum, harlequin glorybower
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Deciduous Shrubs

Clerodendrum trichotomum

harlequin glorybower

LamiaceaeChina, Japan, and Korea

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height10-20 feet (3-6 m)
Width10-15 feet (3-4.5 m)
Maturity5 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

6 - 9
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Fragrant (moderate)
Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Clerodendrum trichotomum (harlequin glorybower) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree native to East Asia, reaching 10–20 feet (3–6 m) tall and 10–15 feet (3–4.5 m) wide in PNW conditions, with a somewhat coarse, suckering habit. It is grown for two exceptional ornamental features. First, in August through September, it bears star-shaped white flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across with five spreading petals, red-purple calyces, and remarkably long projecting stamens and style — fragrant with a sweet, jasmine-like scent. Second, and more spectacularly, the flowers are followed in September through November by brilliant turquoise to metallic-blue berries 0.4 inch (10 mm) in diameter held in persistent star-shaped crimson to pink calyces that split and reflex as the berries ripen — a bicolor berry-and-calyx display unlike any other commonly grown hardy shrub. The two-toned effect of blue fruit against red star calyx is extraordinary and persists into late fall. Leaves are large, ovate, 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) long, with a distinctive unpleasant to some, peanut-butter-like scent when crushed — the source of the common name 'Peanut Butter Tree.' Critical limitation: Clerodendrum trichotomum spreads aggressively from root suckers and can form extensive colonies if not managed. In favorable PNW conditions, suckers can emerge many feet from the parent plant through lawn and garden beds. This suckering behavior must be factored into siting decisions — the plant is not appropriate for small, confined gardens without consistent sucker removal. Great Plant Picks endorsed.

Native Range

Native to East Asia — China, Japan, and Korea — in open woodlands, forest margins, and disturbed habitats. Widely planted as an ornamental in temperate regions.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a large specimen shrub or small multi-stemmed tree for exceptional late-summer flowers and unparalleled fall berry display. The turquoise berry and crimson calyx combination in October and November is a genuine garden conversation piece with no close rivals in hardiness. Best sited in large gardens, informal woodland edges, or isolated positions where suckering can be managed or tolerated. Great Plant Picks endorsed for PNW gardens. Not recommended for small, confined, or formal gardens due to aggressive suckering. The fragrant late-summer flowers attract pollinators during a period when few other large shrubs are blooming.

How to Identify

Identified in late summer by fragrant white star-shaped flowers with strikingly long projecting stamens and red-purple calyces. In fall, the berries are unmistakable: brilliant turquoise to metallic-blue spheres 0.4 inch (10 mm) in diameter held in persistent star-shaped crimson calyces that reflex as the fruit ripens — no other common hardy shrub produces this particular bicolor berry-and-calyx effect. Large ovate leaves 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) emit an unusual peanut-butter-like scent when crushed. The suckering multi-stemmed habit and coarse texture are characteristic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 20'
Width/Spread10' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white
red
purple

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks
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SummerFall
Blooms August through September with fragrant star-shaped white flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across with prominent red-purple calyces and long projecting stamens. The sweet, jasmine-like fragrance is detectable at a distance. Berries develop from October through November: turquoise to metallic-blue spheres held in star-shaped crimson calyces that persist into late fall — the berry display is the primary ornamental feature and appears on the same plant simultaneously with the last flowers in September through October.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white with red-purple calyces

Foliage Description

medium green in summer; variable yellow in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysand
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-6 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained to average soil. Tolerates a range of soil types; avoid waterlogged conditions. Establishes readily and grows vigorously in PNW conditions. The most important management requirement is consistent removal of root suckers, which emerge from wide-spreading underground runners — inspect the perimeter of the planting annually and remove suckers at their point of origin. Without sucker control, the plant spreads into lawns, garden beds, and neighboring plantings. In confined or mixed borders, sucker management is labor-intensive; this plant is better suited to large, informal gardens or isolated positions where spreading can be tolerated or controlled more easily. Hard pruning in late winter (February through March) controls height and encourages more vigorous flowering stems.

Pruning

Prune in late winter (February through March) to control size and remove dead or damaged wood — the plant flowers on current season's growth. Hard pruning to 2–3 feet (60–90 cm) from the ground can be done every few years to keep the plant at a manageable size and encourage vigorous new growth with maximum flowers and fruit. Remove root suckers throughout the growing season by tracing them back to their origin and cutting at the point of attachment — do not simply cut them at ground level, which stimulates more sucker production.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

moderate

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic