Cleyera

( klay - YER - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs includes species which need partial shade and regular waterings to perform well in the landscape. The most commonly cultivated species is commonly called Japanese Cleyera or Sakaki. Native to Japan and Southeast Asia, this relative of Camellia grows to reach 15 feet tall and just as wide at maturity with graceful, spreading, arching branches. Newer leaves are brown-red and mature to glossy dark green with a red midrib. Small, fragrant white flowers bloom in spring to summer and are followed by dark red berries. Use Cleyera to hide foundations, as background foliage or as a hedge or privacy screening plant.

Cleyera Species and Varietals

The genus Cleyera is named for German botanist and physician Andreas Cleyer, and is included in the family Pentaphylacaeae. There are 21 distinct species in the genus. These shrubs are considered sacred in the Shinto religion, and branches from these shrubs are used in various rituals. Cleyera grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset growing zones 4-6, 8, 9, 14-24, and H1. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Cleyera japonica (Cleyera fortunei)
Native to Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Nepal, northern India, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines, this species is typically found growing in forests, thickets, and mountainous regions. The species has evergreen, glossy foliage. Flowers are white. Cultivar 'Tricolor' (pictured) produces yellow- and rose- variegated young leaves, and rarely flowers.

Caring for cleyera

Plant these shrubs in full sun to partial or full shade. In warmer climates, the more shade these shrubs can get during the warmest hours of the day the better they will perform. Protect from strong winds, especially when shrubs are young, as they can damage branches and foliage. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 6.5 (slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. Once established, these shrubs are drought-tolerant, getting by on rainwater alone for much of the year.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is not necessary other than to remove damaged or dead branches; the natural habit of these shrubs is beautiful and does not usually need much help. Cleyera shrubs are considered long-lived perennials, and can survive for upwards of 30 years in the landscape under ideal conditions.

Propagation

Cleyera shrubs can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Cleyera, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Cleyera by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late winter or early springtime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about six to eight weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Cleyera by Seed

Keep in mind that the Cleyera plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Cleyera plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Soak seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water, and then put them in an envelope in a sealable container for 90 days in the refrigerator.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.