Cleyera japonica

Cleyera japonica, locally nicknamed Sakaki, is an evergreen bush introduced from warm regions of Asia relatively rarely planted in gardens. This cousin of camellias, a sacred tree in the ancient Shinto religion, is more commonly grown in a conservatory due to its reputation as a frost-sensitive plant. From an aesthetic point of view, this cleyera is interesting for its decorative foliage, fragrant flowering, and red fruit turning black in autumn. When planted in the ground, it looks impressive, but its limits in terms of frost resistance and tolerance to summer drought remain to be tested. To give it the best chance, plant it in a very sheltered spot, in rich and loose soil, preferably cool and slightly acidic rather than too chalky.

Cleyera japonica belongs to the pentaphyllaceae or tea family according to classifications. In nature, it is found in oak forests in the warm regions of Japan, South Korea, and mainland China. It grows on the slopes of mountains or in valleys, up to 2000 m (6561 ft 8 in) in altitude. It is a bush with an erect and bushy habit, with numerous branches arranged in a characteristic manner, almost horizontal, covered with dense and evergreen foliage in winter. The leaves measure up to 9 cm long. They are oblong, thick, dark green, tinged with coppery pink on new shoots in spring. Shiny, they can also take on reddish tones in winter. In June-July, depending on the climate, it bears pendulous cream-white cup-shaped flowers on one-year-old branches measuring 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter with 5 petals, difficult to spot at first glance, but fragrant. They are followed in autumn by small red fruits that turn black when ripe, quite discreet and resembling cherries, but not edible. The bark is smooth and dark reddish-brown in colour.

Slow-growing, the Cleyera japonica reaches about 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height, and up to 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) in favourable conditions at maturity. Plants grown in pots indoors rarely exceed 60-75 cm (23.6-29.5 in) in height and sometimes produce small fragrant white flowers. This bush appreciates soils rich in organic matter as well as semi-shaded to sunny locations. Very decorative and compact, this bush is ideal for adding colour to a well-sheltered courtyard, such as terraces and small urban gardens. It is resistant to pollution and suitable for container planting. It can be planted with other acid-loving plants, such as Japanese azaleas and rhododendrons, camellias, kalmias, magnolias, Japanese andromedas (Pieris), heathers, or even sacred bamboos. Also consider hydrangeas to give it a flowering companion in summer!