Harlequin Glorybower

(Clerodendrum trichotomum)

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum)

Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada

CC BY 2.0

Image By: Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 | Uploader: File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Clerodendrum_trichotomum,_Vancouver.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description = ''[[Clintonia uniflora]]'' {{en|Lanceleaf Springbeauty}} |Source = Own work |Date = [[:en:ISO_8601|2007:06:19T09:09:48-7.00]] |Author = [[User:Wsiegmund|Walter Siegmund]] [[User talk:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Clerodendrum trichotomum, commonly known as Harlequin Glorybower, is a deciduous to semi-evergreen tree or large shrub native to woodland margins, forest clearings, and hillsides in East Asia, particularly China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. It typically grows 3–6 meters (10–20 ft) high and wide, with a rounded form. The leaves are ovate, up to 12 cm (5 in) long, soft, and downy or hairy, emitting a peanut-like odor when crushed. From late summer to early autumn, it produces showy, fragrant flowers with white petals and a prominent green calyx that turns red as the fruits ripen. The fruits are drupes that start white, change to bright blue, and mature to dark blue, containing the unique blue pigment trichotomine.

Harlequin Glorybower is valued for its aromatic flowers, striking autumn color, and decorative berries. It is often used in ornamental gardens for its visual appeal and as a specimen plant. It thrives in a sheltered position, requiring well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. While it is hardy, it may need protection from cold winds and frost in cooler climates. The variety C. trichotomum var. fargesii (Farges’ harlequin glorybower) and the cultivar C. trichotomum ’Carnival’ are popular in cultivation for their variegated foliage. Gardeners should be aware that Harlequin Glorybower can be potentially invasive when grown outside its native range, and it is advisable to check local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 10-20 feet
Width: 10-20 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Blue, Pink, White
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden

Natural Habitat

Woodland margins, forest clearings, and hillsides in East Asia

Other Names

Common Names: Peanut Butter Tree, Glorytree, Japanischer Losbaum, Frilandsklerodendrum, 누리장나무, 海州常山;山豬枷, Glory Tree, Hai Zhou Chang Shan, Kusagi

Scientific Names: , Clerodendrum trichotomum, Clerodendron trichotomum, Clerodendrum trichotomum var. trichotomum, Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii, Clerodendrum trichotomum var. ferrugineum, Clerodendrum trichotomum f. ferrugineum, Clerodendrum trichotomum var. esculentum, Clerodendrum fargesii, Clerodendrum trichotomum f. albicarpum

GBIF Accepted Name: Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb.