Clerodendrum trichotomum Purple Blaze

Clerodendrum trichotomum 'Purple Blaze' is a variety of Clergy Tree that distinguishes itself from the species by its young leaves tinged with purple. This admirable shrub or small tree is easy to grow in most regions. It has many assets, young coloured leaves then becoming large, velvety, beautiful bronze-green, late summer flowering with a pronounced jasmine scent, and finally, clusters of steel blue fruits surrounded by calyxes that turn red in late season. In addition to these ornamental qualities, it has a rapid growth rate.

Clerodendrum trichotomum is sometimes called "Peanut butter shrub", due to the scent of its crushed foliage resembling peanut butter. It is a shrub of the Lamiaceae or Verbenaceae family, depending on the classification. It is native to the mountains of Japan, as well as China, Korea, and India. Young plants are a bit sensitive to cold but a well-established plant will tolerate -15°C in well-drained soil.

The 'Purple Blaze' cultivar quickly forms a dense, upright, spreading small tree or large shrub. Some gardeners prune it to expose the 'trunk', forming a curious parasol-shaped crown. It will reach an average size of 3m in all directions. In this clerodendrum, the lower branches are slightly trailing, while the higher ones are upright. Its branches are covered with a dark grey bark dotted with lenticels that swell over time. They bear entire, 8 to 15 cm long, ovate leaves, with prominent veins and wavy or sometimes toothed edges. When they first emerge, the leaves are tinged with reddish-purple, then they turn green. Flowering generally occurs from August to September, depending on the climate, on the current year's growth. The shrub is adorned with terminal inflorescences in 10 to 20 cm long panicles filled with small tubular, star-shaped flowers with long protruding stamens. They are cream-white, slightly tinged with pale mauve, and enclosed in a purple-violet calyx. Their fragrance is reminiscent of jasmine and attracts numerous pollinating insects.  The flowers give way to dark blue berries with metallic reflections surrounded by purple-red calyxes, which are very decorative. This fruiting varies depending on the year and the climate.

The Clergy Tree is a very beautiful shrub and its 'Purple Blaze' form is even more ornamental due to its coloured young foliage. It is interesting from spring to autumn. At the end of August until October, when most garden plants are finishing flowering, it brings a beautiful touch of fragrance and colour. The reputation for frost sensitivity of this clerodendrum is not justified, just as its cultivation requirements are often misrepresented: it is a tolerant plant in terms of soil and cold once established. It will bring an exotic touch to the garden, as a specimen, in an informal hedge, or a shrub border. It can be associated, for example, with the Honey Tree Euodia daniellii, botanical roses, a Red Cascade European Spindle, or the Persian Ironwood Parrotia persica. Also consider a grapevine with sumptuous autumn foliage. To appreciate the fragrance of the flowering Clerodendrum trichotomum 'Purpureum', place it near a living or walking area!