Cleyera japonica — identification & habitat

True Japanese cleyera is an Asian evergreen grown for its glossy leaves and small white flowers. In U.S. nurseries, the same common name is also used for a different plant, Japanese ternstroemia.

Appearance

Growth form: It grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree, about 10–15 ft (3–4.5 m) tall.
Leaves: Glossy, leathery leaves emerge bronze and turn dark green. The leaves alternate along the twigs and have smooth edges.
Flowers: Small, fragrant white flowers hang from the leaf joints in late spring to early summer in North Carolina.
Fruit: Small fruits change from red toward dark purple or black as they ripen.

Look-alikes

Japanese ternstroemiaTernstroemia gymnanthera

Both can have glossy evergreen leaves and pale flowers. Japanese ternstroemia tends to crowd its leaves toward branch tips and has red leaf stalks; a clear flower or fruit photo and a reliable scientific label help.

Why they get mixed upNurseries sometimes sell this different plant as Japanese cleyera.

Japanese camelliaCamellia japonica

Camellia leaves have fine teeth along their edges, while true Japanese cleyera leaves have smooth edges. Camellia flowers are also much larger.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: gardens
woodland plantings
Range: Native to Asia, it is grown in U.S. gardens and greenhouses.
Preferred conditions: It grows in 6–9 in well-drained soil, with sun to partial shade.
Flowering: Flowers May–Jun
Flowers May–Jun

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: A cultivated selection called ‘Fortunei’ has leaves marked with more than one color.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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