Harlequin glorybower in mid-August

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendron trichotomum) is a rambling 15 foot tall shrub, and can be easily shaped into a multi-stemmed 10-12  foot small tree. Glorybower shines in the late summer and early fall landscape. Its sweetly scented, very showy flowers attract the attention of gardeners as well as hummingbirds and butterflies.

Glorybower reaches its northern- most hardiness limit here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6-b and 7). Some winters do not treat glorybower kindly. Significant reconstruction is needed. Moderate pruning in late winter repairs most ills with fast growing glorybower looking great by summer.

Flowers are arranged in wide 6 – 9 inch clusters, comprised of individual white 1 ½ inch blooms and are borne on current season’s wood. Next up in mid-September are the metallic looking topaz colored fruits with beet red calyxes which give  quite a show.

Foliage texture is bold with broad 4 to 9 inch long dark green leaves providing cooling shade to a nearby deck or patio. Its pale yellow autumnal leaf color contributes little. Glorybower is relatively disease and insect free.

Glorybower grows in a moist well-drained average soil and in full to partial (minimum 6- hours) sunlight. A 2-year old established tree is only moderately drought tolerance and requires irrigation during long dry spells.

This under-utilized native of Japan and China is sold principally by internet nursery vendors.