Clerodendron – Identification

Q: Can you identify this plant? I have admired it for several years and no one seems to know what it is.

A: You have a clerodendron, Clerodendron bungei to be exact. There are actually two species of clerodendron I’m asked about. Your’s is called “Peanut Butter Plant” because the leaves smell like the bread-spread when they are crushed.

The other clerodendron, Clerodendron trichotomum, is sometimes called “Red, White and Blue Plant” because it has white flowers followed by red, petal-like calyxes which hold a round blue fruit.

Butterflies love them both but both could be considered invasive in some situations.

Clerodendron bungei

Clerodendron trichotomum

Clerodendron trichotomum fruit