Clerodendrum trichotomum

Clerodendrum trichotomum
Left - a handsome young specimen growing in Washington D.C. There are few trees that put on such a display as this at eye level or just over head height at the most, and with a strong jasmine type scent. This is one of the few trees that we can justify using in limited space being deciduous and leaving a big gap in the garden during winter. Many thanks to John Boggan - DCtropics in Washingtonfor this photo from flickr.com, see their link on our Resources Page . 
Right - the beautifully scented white flowers appear in profusion and have a dainty star shape with a pink coloured calyx (just behind the flower). The leaves tend to be larger on young specimens and can vary in the many genetic forms of C. trichotomum with different leaf, calyx and seed colours also seen.  

Top left  - A typical wide spreading mature specimen with thousands of flowers that can be smelt a long way off, they appear in August through to October. Although the flowers have a great scent the leaves emit a strange and pungent smell of intense peanut when crushed or even brushed against, like all Clerodendrum species - see Clerodendrum bungei. 
Many thanks to John Boggan - DCtropics in Washingtonfor this photo from flick.com, see their link on our Resources Page. 
Below left - although this tree loses its leaves in the winter a stunning waxy or even plastic looking berry is produced surrounded by these waxy looking cerise calyces, a truly mad colour combination.
Right - another shot of the flowers. This tree is a reliable grower which will quickly make a small tree and then slowly make a wide crown. Some forms can throw up suckers but these are not very invasive and easily dealt with.