Clerodendrum trichotomum Flower (08/09/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Late summer to early autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 6m
Eventual Spread: 6m
Hardiness: 6a – 9b
Family: Verbenaceae
Clerodendrum trichotomum is an upright, deciduous large shrub or small tree. Its dark green leaves are opposite, triangular ovate with sparsely serrulate margins, up to 16cm long and 6cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow to red in autumn before they fall. Its hermaphrodite, fragrant white flowers. Its fruit are drupes and are metallic blue in colour, surrounded by a dark pink calyces and persist through the winter months.
Clerodendrum trichotomum (08/09/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Clerodendrum trichotomum, commonly known as Harlequin Glorybower, Japanese Clerodendrum or Chou Wu Tong, is native to Western China. In its native habitat it grows in thickets on mountain slopes.
The etymological root of the binomial name Clerodendrum is from the Greek Klhros meaning ‘fortune’ and dendron meaning ‘tree’, in reference to an early name for this shrub. We are unclear of the root of Trichotomum, reader feedback would be welcome.
The landscape architect may find Clerodendrum trichotomum useful as a dramatic small specimen tree in a low ground cover scheme.
Ecologically, Clerodendrum trichotomum is attractive to pollinating insects.
Clerodendrum trichotomum Leaf (08/09/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
The Royal Horticultural Society has given the variety Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Clerodendrum trichotomum prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Clerodendrum trichotomum requires little maintenance. Formative pruning should be carried out during the winter months. Suckers may be removed in spring or autumn.
