Plant Profile: Cleyera japonica

Taxonomy: Cleyera japonica

Names

Japanese Cleyera, Sakaki

  • Photo of Cleyera japonica (Cleyera japonicas)

Phonetic Spelling:klay-YER-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh

Genus:Cleyera

Species:japonica

Family:Pentaphylacaceae

This plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sunlight, although it benefits from some afternoon shade during hot summer months. It can endure nearly full shade, and once established, the shrubs can withstand dry conditions. It's advisable to position them in a location that offers some shelter from strong winds. They are ideal for use as foundation plantings, in shrub borders, or as hedges and privacy screens.

Previously classified under the family name Theaceae.

Cleyera japonica Feature Summary

Cleyera japonica Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#showy flowers
#fragrant flowers
#white flowers
#low maintenance
#winter interest
#hedges
#privacy
#flowering shrub
#foundation planting
#screening
#black fruits
#fantz
#leathery leaves
#shrub borders

Similar Plants

Cleyera japonica is often confused with:

Cleyera japonica Feature Summary

Attributes
China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan
Fruit
Shiny black fruits
Leaves
Leathery leaves resemble camellias.
Leathery
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Good Drainage
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Screen/Privacy

Cleyera japonica Attributes

Cleyera japonica: Country Or Region Of Origin

China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan

Cleyera japonica Fruit

Cleyera japonica: Fruit Description

Shiny black fruits

Cleyera japonica: Fruit Color

grass
Black

Cleyera japonica Leaves

Cleyera japonica: Leaf Description

Leathery leaves resemble camellias.

Cleyera japonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cleyera japonica: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Cleyera japonica: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cleyera japonica: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Cleyera japonica Whole Plant Traits

Cleyera japonica: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cleyera japonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cleyera japonica: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cleyera japonica Cultural Conditions

Cleyera japonica: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cleyera japonica: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cleyera japonica: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Cleyera japonica: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Cleyera japonica Flowers

Cleyera japonica: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Cleyera japonica: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Cleyera japonica: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cleyera japonica Stem

Cleyera japonica: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cleyera japonica Landscape

Cleyera japonica: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree