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Pruning guide · Shrub
Harlequin glorybower: when and how to prune
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Harlequin glorybower is best pruned in April–May.
| Pruning months | April–May |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in April–May |
| Flowering | August–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Harlequin glorybower: when to prune it?
Prune in late April or May, when you can see which shoots are breaking. It flowers on new shoots, so spring pruning costs no flowers.
Harlequin glorybower: how to prune it?
- Cut frosted and dead shoots back to healthy wood or a bud that is breaking.
- For a small tree, choose one or a few stems and remove the low side branches and the suckers.
- Remove suckers all year round, at the base and in the lawn.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: April–May.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in April–May can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Harlequin glorybower flowers in August–September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Do not prune too early: in March and early April you cannot yet see which shoots are alive.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Harlequin glorybower · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.