You should plant the peanut butter tree in spring in a spot that receives full to partial sun. Opt for a location that doesn’t draw heavy drainage from rain, as your plant can develop root rot in overly wet soil. Since these plants are usually drought-tolerant, they don’t require much watering.
Light
The peanut butter tree does best with full sun, but in hotter areas, some afternoon shade can help keep the flowers from wilting too fast in midsummer. At least six hours of direct sunlight is ideal for yielding large flowers and berries.
Soil
Peanut butter trees prefer rich, loamy, slightly sandy, well-drained soil. Persistently soggy soil can cause root rot and other damage, so be mindful when choosing a planting location. Avoid planting peanut butter trees at the bottom of hills or in areas where your yard collects standing water after heavy rainfall.
Water
These trees are fairly drought tolerant and usually don’t need watering unless during dry spells in spring or summer, in which case they may benefit from an irrigation system. About 1 inch of water per week is sufficient. However, if the soil does not quickly absorb it, refrain from watering and monitor your plant’s growth.
Temperature and Humidity
Peanut butter trees are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10, withstanding temperatures as low as -10˚F to -15˚F. Since these plants are not cold-hardy to very harsh winters, early or late frost can affect their growth cycle.
Fertilizer
You may find that your peanut butter tree benefits from a light application of water-soluble fertilizer in spring to promote more abundant flower blooms and berries. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions. Stop fertilizing once the flowering period is over. Opting for a fertilizer high in phosphorus (like a 10-30-20 ratio, for example) will help boost blooming.
Types of Peanut Butter Trees
Clerodendrum trichotomum ‘Betty Stiles’Clerodendrum trichotomum ‘Stargazer’Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesiiC. trichotomum var. fargesii ‘Carnival’
Pruning
The peanut butter tree yields many suckers, which should be removed seasonally in spring and fall to temper its invasive tendencies. The cooler your growing zone is, the more aggressively this plant will produce suckers—prune suckers by cutting them as close to the base as possible. The shrub can be shaped into a tree form with careful pruning done early in the season. If you don’t intend to shape the plant, you can prune dead or damaged growth in spring before blossoms form. Pruning young shoots before they become branches helps to maintain the shrub’s shape.
Propagating Peanut Butter Trees
Peanut butter trees may be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in spring or summer, while you can also utilize root cuttings in winter. Here’s how:
How to Grow Peanut Butter Trees From Seed
While it’s possible to grow peanut butter trees from seeds, germination can be very slow and often unsuccessful. It’s best to use a greenhouse when growing peanut butter trees from seeds to maintain consistently humid conditions and warm temperatures around 68˚F. Once you collect seeds from your peanut butter tree, plant them in a greenhouse as soon as possible. Ensure full sun during germination, and once the plants mature, whenever possible. Within 20 to 60 days, your plants should germinate. You can replant them in larger containers once they reach a sturdy height of at least 1 inch tall.
Potting and Repotting Peanut Butter Tree
If you don’t live within the peanut butter tree’s hardiness zones, you can grow the tree in a pot to be brought indoors for the winter. However, remember that this species can reach 15 feet tall, so it will eventually outgrow your home. Indoor peanut butter trees also require significant pruning to prevent them from overtaking their pots. Plant your peanut butter tree in a pot with rich, loamy, slightly sandy, well-drained soil. Opt for terracotta or unglazed clay pots with drainage holes on the bottom.
Overwintering
Because the peanut butter tree is frost-sensitive, it’s wise to overwinter your plant in a greenhouse or warm area of your home. Planting your tree near a warmer zone (such as next to a brick building or concrete foundation) may help prevent frost damage. If your winter weather looks like it may threaten the plant, cover it loosely with burlap to prevent frost damage or freezing. Early frost in autumn, however, will merely cause the green leaves to wither and drop off and not otherwise harm the plant.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
The peanut butter tree is usually disease and pest-free. However, it can be susceptible to pests like aphids and whiteflies. You can easily control infestations with the application of insecticidal soap. Treat your plant with a solution at home by mixing 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap into 1 gallon of water, then spraying the plant with the mixture. Peanut butter trees may also develop leaf spot diseases, which should be treated by pruning dead leaves and applying a fungicide to the rest of the plant.
How to Get Peanut Butter Tree to Bloom
To achieve this plant’s colorful show of berries, it is necessary to plant two clones to achieve fertilization and fruit set. This tree blooms throughout the summer, bearing white flowers that emerge from a green calyx. The calyx then turns deep pink or red as the flowers drop and bright blue berries appear. The leaves tend to die back with the first hard frost, but the colorful calyx and berries remain. Its leaves smell like popcorn, and its flowers smell like peanut butter, giving the plant its name.
Common Problems With Peanut Butter Tree
Typically, the peanut butter tree doesn’t experience significant problems. Your plant should stay healthy throughout the season with the proper care and growing conditions. However, it’s possible to run into a few common water issues.
Yellow Leaves
Your peanut butter tree may develop yellowed leaves when under-watered. Watering these plants with a drip irrigation system is beneficial to maintain consistent moisture without overwatering the soil.
Leaves Falling Off
It’s normal for your peanut butter tree to drop its leaves in the winter, but early leaf drops may indicate that the temperatures are too cold in your area. You can cover your plant with burlap on nights with freezing temperatures to extend its bloom.
Wilted Leaves
Wilted leaves may indicate that the plant isn’t receiving enough water. If your peanut butter tree’s leaves are wilting when the soil is moist, it’s likely overwatered. Inversely, the canopy may also wilt when the ground becomes extremely dry.
