Clerodendrum trichotomum, the harlequin glorybower, glorytree or peanut butter tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India, and the Philippines.[1]
It is a large deciduous shrub, growing 3m-6mm (10feet-20feetm) high. The leaves are ovate, up to 12cm (05inches) long, soft and downy or hairy, producing a peanut odor when crushed. The fragrant flowers are borne on branching peduncles. They have white petals, held within a green calyx which turns red as the fruits ripen. The fruits (drupes) are white, changing to bright blue and eventually dark blue on maturity.[2] They contain the novel blue pigment trichotomine.[3]
It is cultivated for its fragrant flowers, autumn colour, and ornamental berries. It is hardy but requires a sheltered position. The variety C. trichotomum var. fargesii (Farges' harlequin glorybower) and the cultivar C. trichotomum var. fargesii 'Carnival'[4] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] (confirmed 2017).[6]
Clerodendrum is derived from Greek, and means 'chance tree'.[7]
Trichotomum is also derived from Greek, and means 'three-forked' or 'triple-branched'.