Trees: Peanut Butter Tree
Moving into our home on Wistaria Drive in NE Portland, our new neighbor, Steve Settlemier, grabbed us. “You have a strange flowering tree in your back yard. It’s beautiful perfume fills the entire block during the end of August each summer.” Since it was May when we moved in, it took a few months to figure out what neighbor Steve was talking about.
The leaves of the tree in the center of our back yard – or back hill is more appropriate – were heart-shaped and smelled strange. When we rubbed the leaves between our fingers, the leaf and our fingers smelled distinctly like peanut butter. Real peanuts are legumes and grow in the ground, but these leaves smell so much like Skippy PB, we immediately called it the Peanut Butter Tree.
Months later, when we got a whiff of the blossoms, it became apparent what our neighbor was talking about. Steve smelled the fragrant flowers, which are late summertime magnets for hummingbirds, butterflies and insects. The flowers are delicate clusters of slender, tube-shaped white petals that dance above the canopy of grey-green leaves. The blossoms turn various shades of cream and pink and white and, as Billy Crystal might remark, “They smell marvelous.”
Clerodendrum
Our other side neighbors, the Pryhar sisters, told us that the tree was called a Clerodendrum. I repeated what I thought I heard after them: clerodendron. “No,” said Sherry Pryhar. “Not like rhododenDRON, but clerodenDRUM, like the percussion instrument!” So now I knew. Whatever the pronunciation, it smells great.
The Settlemeirs and the Pryhars are no longer neighbors, but the new neighbors, the Butlers and Petersons, are equally enchanted with the smell.
Every year the Mother of All Relays, Hood to Coast, is held in the Portland Metro Area on the third weekend in August. Like clockwork the Hood to Coasters arrive just in time to smell the Peanut Butter Tree’s heavenly aroma at its peak. We host a carb-loading dinner and without fail, someone asks what is that great fragrance in the back yard.
The word Clerodendrum comes from the Greek words klero (fate) and dendron (tree), however, the Pryhar sisters are right, the last four letters are d-r-u-m. The tree species comes from the Far East, native to China and Japan. In those countries the plant is most likely to be shrub or small tree, clipped to ornamental size for easier maintenance. The shrubs blossom in last summer, with showy fruit and “malodorous” leaves. On one website they say that when the leaves are bruised, they produce a unique aroma reminiscent of peanut butter. The tree also goes by the names Harlequin Glorybower and the Butterfly Bush. [1]
It is easy to love these trees for many reasons. One is that although the leaves tend to fall early in autumn, the blossoms continue to change well past Thanksgiving and into Christmas season. The flowers transform into small bright blue fruits and each fruit is surrounded by a bright red, fleshy calyx.
Another reason to love the trees is for the birds they attract. We have seen the Peanut Butter Trees full of Cedar Waxwing, Varied Thrush, Rufus-sided Towhee and lots of other species. The Ruby-Throated and Anna’s Hummingbirds are perhaps its biggest fans, as they arrive by the droves, when August arrives.
Many websites have posts which complain that the tree has tubular suckers, which are invasive and terrible for their yards. Yes, the Clerodendrum in our yard has tubers, however, one of the tubers has grown to be larger than the mother tree and she sits majestically above her parent. The other small suckers can easily be snipped, though they are persistent. All hearty gardeners with trusty clippers are up for the challenge. And who wouldn’t be, with a tree that offers so much pleasure year around.
Henry E. Hooper 
Where would one purchase one of the Peanut-Butter tree’s?
Pam,
I suggest you go to your local plant nursery and ask them two questions: 1) if they can get you a Clerodendrum tree, and 2) if it grows well in your neck of the woods. If they answer YES to both, then you are on your way. Just be careful of the suckers which grow up around the tree!
Good luck! — Henry Hooper
I sit down at my computer and look up Peanut Butter tree aka Clerodendrum since they are now blooming here in Virginia Beach and what do I find??? An article by my long moved to Portland friend Henry Hooper, I could hardly believe my eyes, the world just isn’t that small. It means we must get in touch!! I just returned home from Libby’s wedding in Bali, it was amazing, Karen and Meg are still there for another month, Jay has taken 4 month leave of absence from his job to be there and surf, so the whole family is in Bali.
I am so excited to have found that you are a plant blogger, please give my hugs to all the girls.
Pope
I have transplanted 4 of these trees into my yard in Charleston, SC, and they seem to have taken to the high heat and humidity … which I countered by planting them under the large, spreading branches of an ancient Live Oak. They were taken from my girl friend’s mother’s home in Saluda, NC (mountains) and I love them. I can’t wait til they are fully grown. Planted them about 7 ft apart in hopes to form an under-story canopy that will thrive for the years to come.
Do you by any chance remember when did you transplanted them?
Can these trees be rooted either in water or soil with a root tone?
Deborah,
Try it and let me know. It seems possible for the tubers, but I have never tried it.
Henry
Thank you! There is one of these trees near my house. I’ve been wondering what the tree was called.
Just cut off a shoot from a mother clarodendrum tree, and plant it in a dirt-filled pot until it roots. Then you can plant it wherever you want.
Is the berry edible?
Cathy, there are some birds that seem to like the berries, but I do not know if they are safely edible for humans.
yes
How long does it take for the berries to appear when the blooms go away.
Love the awesome description. Despite spreading by tubers and seed this tree is wonderful!
I had one that just showed up two years ago. It has survived puppies and the lawn mower. This is the first year for flowers and I have enjoyed the visiting butterflies. It seems to be a very slow grower.
I had one of these trees in Silverton, Oregon. A friend gave me a start and it grew into this beautiful tree. Loved the flowers. I now live in eastern Oregon and need to find out if it would survive our harsh winters. I would love to plant one here at my new home, the contrast with the pine trees would be beautiful.
Dear Valerie,
Thank you for the reply. The best way to see if the “peanut butter tree” (aka Harlequin Glorybower or Clarodendrum Trichotomum) will survive in your new climate is to check in with the websites which talk about the right ZONES for the propagation of the species. There are lots of sites out there. You might check out: http://www.finegardening.com/harlequin-glorybower-clerodendrum-trichotomum
There are some good growing tips on the web for all gardeners and arborists.
— Henry
I have a peanut tree which has been growing in a pot all this summer. It is now about 18 inches tall. I live in central Georgia, just south of Atlanta. I have place in my yard with full sun I want where I want to transplant it. Can I do that now in mid-October?
.
James, you will want to wait until March, when the chances of frost are gone. That will allow the clarodendrum plant to have a full spring and summer, getting acclimated to the area. Be sure you have a pot that can accommodate the increase in root growth over the next 5 months. Good luck.
A friend gave my a sucker/runner from her peanut butter tree when I lived in Silverton. It grew to be like my favorite tree ever. I now live in Southern Oregon and I want another peanut butter tree. Problem is I’ve looked for this tree everywhere and can’t find one. Can you give me any hints on where I might find one. Thanks for whatever information you can give me. Valerie Gilbert is my name.
Dear Valerie,
There may be an orchard or arborist in your area to help you locate a source. The Clarodendrum is not rare, but some feel it is an invasive species. Keep looking and you may find success. Good luck finding a source in 2018!
Cornell Farms on Barnes Road in Portland has them. Go to their website and see what they can do to get one to you. I have wanted one for years and found one this afternoon at Cornell Farms while looking to buy a different tree. I planted it this evening, and the hummingbirds have already found it!
If you ever plan on visiting the Seattle area (east of city suburbs) send me an email. My neighbor and I have started ‘potting’ the suckers and seem to be having some success. We might have an extra or two if you are ever up this way.
Very beautiful mine is still small. I think I’m the only one with one around here. Apparently there’s also a tropical tree called peanut butter tree it has yellow flowers and Red fruit that tastes like peanut butter. Not sure what it is.
If you are in the Seattle area – contact the Bellevue Botanical garden. Not sure when it occurs but I found mine at their annual plant sale.
We have four of these in our yard in Charleston SC. Still very young trees, they are doing well in a row under two massive Live Oaks. So they are in a part shade situation and thriving .
I have a peanut butter tree that my sister says is an elderberry tree. Supposedly, the berries can be made into a type of cough syrup for bad colds with a cough… I have not looked into that claim. But the blooms do have a unique smell that carries a long way.
My tree grew fast but every month there were over 50 tubers growing all over the yard. I couldn’t keep up with them so I had to chop the main tree down.
Will they grow in zone 7 which is Maryland and can it be trimmed into a bush
I have suckers, brand new shoots, I am selling. Located in Salem, OR. Let me know if your’e interested. janeandjill@me.com
Why does mine not get the red blooms with the blue balls?
Kathy, I’m not sure why your tree would present different flower, fruit and seed habits. Check the species with your favorite arborist in your climate zone for answers.
Hello, Henry. I had this tree in my yard for more than 9 yrs and it’s probably been here for 20-30 yrs.
Sprouts get annoying to trim back every year; however, its nice to see the bees, birds and butterflies love this peanut butter tree.