Items 1 to 5 of 5 total
Items 1 to 5 of 5 total
Cleyera Shrubs
Uses:
- Hedges
- Containers
- Mass Plantings
Features:
- Evergreen Glossy Foliage
- Tiny Fhite Fragrant Flowers
- Fall Berries for Wildlife
Sunlight:
- Partial Shade to Full Sun
- 4+ Hours of Direct Sun
Growing Zones:
- 7-10
- What is My Zone?
Cleyera is a slow growing evergreen shrub that is perfect for landscapes and gardens where an upright, vertical aspect would be appreciated. They are prized for their glossy colorful foliage, small white fragrant flowers and fall/winter interest with berries that are a valuable food source for wildlife.
Why Cleyera Online
Cleyera shrubs are primarily grown for their beautiful glossy foliage, although the tiny white fragrant flowers and fall berries certainly are appealing as well. Several species start out with new growth in a bronze or burgundy color and then deepen to a dark lustrous green color, such as with Bronze Beauty and LeAnn Cleyera, or have variegated foliage like Romeo Cleyera with its deep green leaf with a silky cream border that matures to a rosy variegated leaf in the winter. The leaves are typically oval, glossy and whirl attractively at the end of strong reddish stems creating a more open rounded appearance.
These are heat loving, drought tolerant plants and are generally disease resistant, making them the perfect low maintenance shrub for your landscape. They are native to China and Japan, but have generally become naturalized throughout the southern region of the United States. Cleyera are related to the Japanese Camellia and share the evergreen glossy leaf characteristic that camellias are appreciated. They do not like freezing temperatures and may suffer from prolonged cold spells.
The Best Way to Use Cleyera
Cleyera are prized for their upright tall growth habit as well as their unusually dark green glossy foliage. They make a wonderful foundation plant in between windows on a larger home, as they grow taller than they grow wide. The evergreen leaves and the winter interest berries make it an attractive landscape plant. When used as a privacy hedge or windscreen, space the plants 4 to 6 feet apart. When utilizing them with other shrubs give them 5 to 7 feet of space and offset them for an attractive display.
Cleyera appreciate a full sun location and will tolerate partial shade, especially in the hottest summer regions. They need well draining slightly acidic soil and will not tolerate heavy clay or other poorly draining soils. Keep moist by applying a fine bark mulch around the root zone and water during extended dry periods. Perhaps the best use of Cleyera are as windbreaks or privacy screens as their evergreen color and fall to winter berries will provide plenty of privacy and food for wildlife.
Evergreen, attractive foliage
Small creamy white fragrant flowers
Winter interest with berries for wildlife
Heat and drought resistant
Deer resistant
Landscaping Tip: Cleyera are a versatile landscape shrub that lends itself to planting in full sun or in partial shade, giving you many options for placement and for companion plants.
About Cleyera Shrubs
Genus
Species
Family
Ternstroemia
Ternstroemia gymnanthera (commonly referred to as Cleyera japonica)
Theaceae
Common Names:
Cleyera japonica, Japanese Cleyera, Cleyera Tree
Native To:
Eastern Asia, particularly Japan and parts of China
Plant Type:
Bushes
Foliage Type:
Evergreen
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
7 to 9
Flower Color:
Pollinators such as bees
Flower Bloom Time:
Late spring to early summer, typically in May or June depending on the climate
Growth Habit:
Dense, bushy growth with a rounded form (can be pruned into a small tree or hedge shape)
Attracts:
Shade, drought (once established), mild salt conditions (in coastal areas)
Tolerates:
Partial shade; moderate drought once established
Resists:
Deer, pests, and diseases are relatively less of an issue with Cleyera shrubs
How To Use Cleyera In The Garden
Cleyera shrubs, scientifically known as Ternstroemia gymnanthera, are distinguished by their evergreen foliage that transitions from bronze or burgundy to green. In early summer, they produce fragrant white to pale yellow flowers, followed by red fruit that reveals persistent black seeds. Their rounded growth habit and height of six to ten feet make them an excellent choice for gardeners seeking year-round interest and structural appeal.
Cleyeras are commonly used as hedges or in privacy screens, providing a consistent backdrop for seasonal plants. You can also plant a single specimen in a prominent spot to create a dramatic centerpiece. Its red-tinged foliage offers subtle interest among mixed borders. When placed in containers on patios or porches, Cleyera instantly contributes an evergreen focal point.
Cleyera Care
Cleyera shrubs prefer full sun to partial shade and thrive in well-drained, acidic soils with a pH between 5 and 6.5. When planting, space them far enough apart for each shrub to reach its mature spread. Water regularly during the first two years to establish the plant, providing about one inch of water per week, and increase watering during periods of high heat or drought. In spring, apply a slow-release fertilizer formulated for woody shrubs.
Pruning is minimal for cleyeras; if shaping is desired, prune in spring or after flowering by cutting back one-third of the tallest stems to the base to maintain a natural appearance. For winter care, especially in zones 6 or 7, mulch with organic matter and consider using frost cloth to protect the plant from cold temperatures. When growing cleyera in containers, select a compact variety and use a pot with good drainage filled with high-quality, acidic soil mix.
Learn More About Cleyera
Cleyera Shrubs Companion Plants
Cleyera can function as a full sun or partial shade inhabitant, giving you a wide range of companion plants to pair it with. Many acid loving shrubs are also full sun or partial shade and combining them together brings an added dimension to your landscape.
