Re: ID of shrub - Clerodendrum trichotomum

At 07:02 PM 10/24/2003, RStarkeson@jschlesinger.com wrote:
This is hardly a med climate plant, but I was hoping someone could identify this shrub:
<http://public.fotki.com/richard1124/unidentifed-plants/shrub-unk-10-03.html>http://public.fotki.com/richard1124/unidentifed-plants/shrub-unk-10-03.html
Was in fruit on October 3, at the US National Arboretum in Washington D.C. (of course not labeled, but in an asian collection), at a time when autumn was just beginning - oaks were dropping acorns, dowoods were in fruit, but only a few trees had begun to turn color.
Richard Starkeson
San Francisco
Hi Richard -

Actually, Clerodendrum trichotomum (I agree with the IDs so far) is not an unknown plant in the Bay Area. It seems likely that it was fairly common years ago, and had been passed along from gardener to gardener since it is fragrant and tends to sucker at the roots (making it easy and even desirable to dig some and give it away). I've seen this plant growing virtually abandoned in gardens that are no longer being tended, struggling a bit, and looking ragged and tatty, not attracting any attention until it puts forth some of the intensely fragrant flowers. I our dry summer climate, it tends not to be the rampant thug it can be in wet summer areas. It also tolerates really poor, heavy soils and poor culture in general. Appreciates some shade in hot summer areas, but will revel in full sun along our cool, foggy coast. I find the fragrance to be in the same class as heavy jasmines and paperwhite narcissus, but more sickly sweet. But I know people who just love this type of fragrance (we all seem to have different noses). On a well grown specimen, the stems and new leaves are purple flushed, the flowers are pink and white, and the fruit is blue and rose calyxes. This is why this 'perennial shrub' has been called 'Harlequin Glorybower'. The strange bad smell of the leaves had inspired the name 'Peanut Butter Tree'. I've also seen a variegated form (broad white edges to the leaves, which can burn in full, hot sun) available as well.

Not usually in the 'top ten' mediterranean climate adapted plant lists but certainly an interesting 'cottage garden' plant.

Seán O.

No. Calif. Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society
Seán A. O'Hara - Branch Head
(510) 987-0577; sean@support.net
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.
http://www.MediterraneanGardenSociety.org/branches_CANo.html

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