Suckers on Clerodendron trichotomum
Forum Archives
ranjanir
Posted: Jul-04-2004 at 11:39pm
Hi Rainysiders,
I planted a Clerodendron Trichotomum last year and this year I notice that there is a *huge* mass of suckers at the root and as much as far as 3-4 feet away. The tree itself has very few leaves but boy the suckers are healthy and lush.
What do I do (I know that suckers have to be discouraged). Is there a right/wrong way to pull them out?
I looked up google and almost wonder why I searched high and low to get this tree (as a site at the University of Florida calls it a rather un-attractive tree). Oh well. It is in my garden now and I have to save it.
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks.
_ Ranjani
Salvia Guy
Posted: Jul-05-2004 at 12:51pm
Ranjanu,
I just cut them off with a shovel. It actually is a very attractive tree when it blooms. The flowers are white and very fragrant. People always comment about the fragrance when they walk by my house. After the flowers fall off it will set metallic blue berries. The calices will turn red giving it the appearance of blue berries set in red stars.
SG
_ Saving America's Gardens ONE Salvia At A Time
tommyb
Posted: Jul-05-2004 at 5:28pm
Hey Ranjani,
Having googled Clerodendron Trichotomum, and found one name means "smelly tree", I have an immediate love for it!
Although I don't have a moist place to put one, I'll bet a lot of people might, why not use the suckers for starts and use it for trades or gifts? If the plant is somewhat hard to find, might be valuable! And if the suckers seem healthier than the parent, maybe replace the parent with a sucker?? I'm doing exactly that with a Rhus typhinia Laciniata. All you'd have to do is dig up the sucker, with some roots, and stick it in a pot of potting mix.
I'm just a sucker for propagation, and for making goodness out of badness. Just my 2 cents.
Tom
_
tommyb
Favorite Tool: Potato Hook
mdvaden
Posted: Jul-05-2004 at 6:14pm
I think the suckering depends on the plant. Some have a problem, others don't.
Lilac is like that.
Odds are, the more a plant like those is topped, the more it will sucker. Maybe yours wasn't - but if not, don't.
They make very decent trees - no worse than Cotinus / smoketree.
_ M.D. Vaden
cjmiller
Posted: Jul-06-2004 at 6:02pm
I have a Cleodendrum now because of the suckering habit--my good friend gave me a sucker, Mine has flowers the color of bubblegum and it produced 4 new sucker plants this past year. Ones closer to the main stalk I saved, and pulled one out that came up several feet away growing against the foundation of the house. It was quite young, but had an amazingly long root stem. probably 14 inches under the ground, straight down, which tells me that if you dont want more bush, take it out while it is young.
_ grammagt
Phlox
Posted: Jul-06-2004 at 11:47pm
Hi Ranjanir, I also have a Clerodendron 'Harlequin glory-bower', better known as "The Peanutbutter Tree". Its quite a few years old now and seems to send up fewer suckers every year, even after pruning. I also think that the depth you plant it may have something to do with having suckers at the trunk.
Vine maples have this same problem, suckers at the trunk, but I've noticed that the ones I planted deeper, I don't have the problem with. I wonder if that would work for lilac's as well.
Salvia Guy was right about the flowers (very fragrant) and seed pods (hence,the Harlequin),even my neighbors enjoy it. And tommyb was right about sharing it, I've given many away. Didn't know about the moist ground though, mine has been surviving in dry ground forever. Mine is also late to leaf-out and late to bloom. I've seen others blooming already and mine probably wont for another month.
I would suggest that if the tree is a small one, bury it deeper this fall.......and sell those suckers
_ My Garden, My Haven.
Sydnie
Posted: Jul-07-2004 at 12:32pm
Does anyone know if Clerodendron attract butterflies in a big way. According to the info I read, when mature they do??
I have apparently never seen the peanut butter tree grown and in full bloom. Linda I need to see yours in bloom! LOL. Linda gave me one. And
Tommy believe me - you can grow this variety. I have it planted on the slope above in the front yard. It's established this year and I have not watered it once. (Which reminds me it's due for a close up look, LOL) It's about 4 ft and doing extremely well- even on this dry hill!!! I had no idea the mature trees were soooo beautiful - even though mine has bloomed. (I googled, too.) Is the Rhus typhinia Laciniata a Sumac?? Linda gave me some of them, too. Interestingly enough- all trees and bushes here take longer to really establish, but if I'm patient they do. I have not had any suckers on either of these trees- but they have all just finally established themselves... so time will tell. Lilacs on the other hand I have tons of- and lots of suckers. Sometimes I give them away, sometimes I cut them off... sometimes I leave them! I am getting a smoke tree from Linda, too. (My forest thanks to Linda! !!!)
Hey Linda- I will be planting a viney maple soon- up above the pond. How deep is deeper for planting???
mdvaden- I will note that about the topping... LOL Because I may have a tree or two that I want to sucker. Good to know!
tommyb
Posted: Jul-07-2004 at 4:10pm
Yes, Sydnie, the Rhus is a sumac, the lacy leaf variety. It's the creature that collapsed this spring, and the suckers---this years---are two and a half feet tall and going great. It will be the multi-trunked shrub I wanted, if it doesn't collapse next spring. Then I might get to put something else in my window/north side yard.
When I googled Clerodendron, the sights I visited mentioned moist ground and in my Willamette Desert almost all water is imported. Except the water you are actually going to use to throw pots from the clay. I found a blue/grey clay deposit next to my front sidewalk, probably could do pottery with that goo.
Are plants propagated from suckers prone to sucker more??? As compared to cuttings, seeds, and so on. Anybody got any opinions, er, ideas?
Tom
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton