Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb., Lamiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 18 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Clerodendrum fragrans (Hort. ex Vent.) Willd.; Clerodendrum philippinumSchauer

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: chong ban xiu mo li

English: Chinese glory bower, Hawaiian Rose, Honolulu rose, fragrant clerodendrum, fragrant glory bower, glory bower, stickbush

Hawaiian: pīkake hohono, pīkake pilau, pīkake wauke

Maori (Cook Islands): pitate mama, tiare tūpāpaku

Pohnpeian: rohsen onoluhlu

Samoan: losa Honolulu, losa fiti

Tagalog: pelegrina

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Scented subshrubs up to 2 m tall; branches quadrangular, densely strigose.  Leaves membranous, broadly ovate, 6-29 cm long, 5-28 cm wide, both surfaces sparsely to moderately strigillose, margins coarsely and irregularly dentate, sometimes weakly 1-3-lobed, apex acute, base cordate to truncate, petioles 2-23 cm long.  Flowers fragrant, numerous in dense, terminal cymose inflorescences, often subtended by a pair of foliaceous bracts, bracteoles numerous, oblong or elliptic, 1.5-3 cm long, strigillose, especially along the margins; calyx purple or red, sometimes with white spots, campanulate, 10-15 mm long, 5-lobed, the lobes anceolate, apex acuminate; corolla pale pink, salverform, usually doubled by petaloid stamens; stamens and ovary usually modified into extra petals  Fruit unknown"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1319). "A perennial shrub, 1.2 -2.4 m tall, with attractive, dense terminal heads of white-pink-mauve flowers.  The flowers are fragrant and often sterile.  The leaves are large (6-10 cm long), opposite and simple with variable margins." (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 33)

Habitat/ecology:  "A major weed of roadsides and gardens in towns and villages and rapidly invades pastures and plantations wherever it is planted.  It only thrives where the soil and air are moist and fertile, but it can tolerate shade"  (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 15).  Can form dense thickets that exclude other species. "The plant appears best suited to high rainfall (greater than 1000 mm per annum), tropical and sub-tropical climates" (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 33).  "Forms dense canopies in pastures, along streams, and along forest edges, shading out the understory"  (Motooka et al., 2003).  "The plant thrives best where the soil is fertile and moist and where there is plenty of sunlight.  However, it can tolerate shade.  In particular, the rich, moist soils of geologically-recent volcanic islands favor it"  (Waterhouse, 1993; p. 79).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in open, wet, partly shaded, disturbed areas at the edges of mesic and wet forests, taro paddies, or streams, 50-670 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1319). In Fiji, "sparingly cultivated from near sea level to an elevation of about 900 m; it is more commonly seen naturalized in thickets, fields, and coconut plantations and along roadsides"  (Smith, 1991; pp. 212-213).

Propagation:  Primarily root suckers (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 33).

Native range:  China, exact native range obscure; widely cultivated in tropics & subtropics (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 4)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 4)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Whistler 3068
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1975) (voucher ID: BISH 130097) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum philippinum
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (pp. 4, 13)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island	introduced	Ragone, Diane/Lorence, David H. (2003) (p. 49)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 9134) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 4)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 186985) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum philippinum
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 76)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 89) "Potential invader"
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 10)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 186952) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum fragrans var. pleniflora
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 26)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 18) Invasive species.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Sanney, Jacob A. (2013) (p. 19)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 100) Invasive
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 77)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 76)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 212-213) Voucher cited: DA 10763
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1957) (voucher ID: BISH 33646) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (pp. 212-213) Vouchers cited: Smith 5017, DA 10126, DA 7428, DA 11071
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 187042) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 77)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 151)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5008 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 292) Vouchers cited: BRY 25366, BRY 26410
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 77)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg & M.-H. Sachet 63396 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492150) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum fragrans var. pleniflora
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 151)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 292) Voucher cited: Setchell & Parks 13
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 77)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 77)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: S. Jourdan 592 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491741) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum fragrans var. pleniflora
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643926) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum fragrans var. pleniflora
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1319, 1895)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1319, 1895)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1319, 1895)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1319, 1895)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1319, 1895)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1319, 1895)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 212-213) Voucher cited: CHR 169882
Niue Niue	Niue Island	invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 39) In western Polynesia (not specifically this island): "occasional in plantations and along roadsides where it often forms dense thickets"
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 5)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 49)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 8) Some control work has been undertaken.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 77)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 60)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Samoa Samoa	Samoa	invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 39) In western Polynesia (not specifically this island): "occasional in plantations and along roadsides where it often forms dense thickets"
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 6)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 28904) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum philippinum
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1973) (voucher ID: BISH 417676) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum philippinum
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 439419) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum philippinum
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 439420) Taxon name on voucher: Clerodendrum philippinum
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 106) "Potential invader".

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 73)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 229) Ornamental.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75) Var. simplex only.
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 27) Cultivated only
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 76)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 76)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced cultivated	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 75)

Comments:  A major weed in Samoa (Upolu) (Space & Flynn, 2002) and American Samoa (Space & Flynn, 2000). Meyer (2000; p. 106) lists as present in Tonga, but not seen on islands visited (Space & Flynn, 2001). Becoming widespread on Niue (Space & Flynn, 2000; Space et al., 2004).

Control: 

Physical: "Slashing will slow spread but not prevent it.  Vertical barriers in the soil may prevent further spread if deep enough.  Deep cultivation in dry soil should be effective, but cultivation in moist soil is probably ineffective and may spread the weed.  Apparently unpalatable to stock" (Swarbrick, 1997; pp. 23-24).

Chemical:  "Probably susceptible to:  1) foliar application of arboricides such as picloram, metsulfuorn-methyl, glyphosate and triclopyr at standard rates and dilutions; 2) cut-stump application of the same herbicides; 3) soil application of hexazinone, karbutilate, fluroxypyr and bromacil at standard rates" (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 24). "A little work done suggests hormone-type herbicides in timely repeat applications will control this weed" (Motooka et al., 2003).

"No detailed screening of herbicides has been carried out, although 2,4,5-T, or the more expensive Tordon 520 Brushkiller, are suggested as possible herbicides for Western Samoa.  More recently a mixture of dicamba and 2,4-D has proved effective.  Work carried out in Western Samoa has also shown that metsulfuron methyl ester produces effective control.  It has been recommended that the plants be cut and the new growth sprayed.  When herbicides were applied in Western Samoa to regrowth four weeks after it had been slashed to the ground, glyphosate partially destroyed the foliage, but complete regrowth had occurred by 4 to 6 weeks after application.  Treatment with 2,4,5-T resulted in complete kill of foliage, but 5 to 15% of the plants had regrown after 8 weeks"  (Waterhouse, 1993, p. 80).

"Young plants can be sprayed by a herbicide such as triclopyr (Garlon 4).  Undiluted herbicide can be applied to the cut stems of larger plants with woody stems"  (Englberger, 2009; p. 8).

Biological: The chrysomelid beetle Phyllocharis undulata is a prospective biocontrol agent (see Julien (1992; p. 88) and Waterhouse (1993; pp. 73-93) for information on this and other possible agents).