Grow clove tree in humid, frost-free air, on soil that stays moist but drains. It is Syzygium aromaticum, the spice tree sold as clove.
Give it humid air, a frost-free site, and soil that stays moist but drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun or light afternoon shade | Do not site it in deep shade or on a dim north wall |
| Soil | Deep ground that stays moist and still drains after rain | Do not plant in a low spot that holds standing water |
| Cold | A warm, humid, frost-free bed, or a pot you can move | Do not leave a tree out when nights drop toward 50 F |
clove tree wants tropical air and even moisture. Full sun keeps the canopy dense. Light afternoon shade is fine, and it helps a young tree through the hottest weeks. [1] Soggy ground around the roots is the usual cause of root rot, and water that never leaves the hole can stop flowering. Choose a bed that stays moist and still dries after rain. This tree will not take a freeze. Nights near 50 F are already too cold. Site it where a wall holds warmth, or grow it in a pot you can roll under cover on Clove Tree in Pots. [2] Set a nursery tree on Planting Clove Tree.
How much sun does a clove tree need?
Full sun, or sun with light afternoon shade. Deep shade makes a thin tree that is slow to flower.
Will a clove tree take a freeze?
No. Bring a potted tree under cover before nights drop toward 50 F. A freeze will kill it.
Keep a young tree moist, and never leave the roots sitting wet
Water at planting and keep the root ball moist while the tree is young, so roots can leave the can. In a dry spell, soak deeply rather than misting the leaves. Once it is set, keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months. [3] Do not let the mix dry to dust, and do not leave a wet ring against the trunk. Keep mulch several inches off the bark so the crown stays dry. Yellow leaves on a tree that sits wet usually start at the roots, not at a missed feeding.
How often should I water a clove tree?
Keep a new tree moist until it puts on growth. After that, soak deeply when the top of the soil starts to dry, then wait. Do not leave the crown standing in water.
Not clover, not garlic, and not a Eugenia hedge
clove tree is a tropical myrtle whose unopened flower buds dry into the spice. Clover is a lawn legume — see How to Grow Clover. A garlic clove you bury in fall is a bulb, not this tree. Clove pink is Dianthus — see How to Grow Dianthus. Cinnamon is a different spice tree — see How to Grow Cinnamon Tree. A shop tag that says Eugenia or brush cherry is usually a hedge Syzygium with small leaves, not this spice tree. [4] If the tag says Eugenia myrtifolia, you have a different plant.
Is clove the same as clover?
No. Clove tree is Syzygium, grown for flower buds. Clover is Trifolium, a lawn and cover crop.
Is a Eugenia hedge a clove tree?
No. Landscape Eugenia is usually brush cherry, a hedge plant. Clove tree is the spice myrtle with larger aromatic leaves.
Cut out dead wood, and do not snap live branches
This tree is slow. It does not need a yearly shape cut. Take out what is dead, and leave the live canopy alone except to keep a path clear.
- Once or twice a year, cut dead, broken, or diseased shoots back to live wood.
- Thin a crowded crotch if two stems rub. Do not top the tree.
- When you pick, lift the cluster. Do not break a live branch. The pick lives on Harvesting Clove Tree.
When do I prune a clove tree?
Cut dead wood whenever you see it. Skip a hard shape cut. The harvest is a lift, not a saw job.
Give it humid frost-free air and moist soil that drains, keep a young tree watered, and do not buy clover or a Eugenia hedge for this spice tree.
FAQ
Is there more than one kind of clove tree?
This catalog holds one plant, Syzygium aromaticum. Shop tags may say clove, clove tree, or old Eugenia names. Brush cherry and rose apple are other Syzygium plants, not this spice tree.
How long until a clove tree flowers?
Often five to ten years from a seedling. A nursery tree can be closer, but it is still a slow crop.
Do crushed leaves smell like the spice?
Yes. The leaves, bark, and buds are aromatic. That smell is a useful check when a tag is vague.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NParks Flora Fauna Web -
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/1/3154 - [2] Trade Winds Fruit -
https://www.tradewindsfruit.com/content/clove.htm - [3] Penn State PlantVillage -
https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/clove/infos - [4] University of Florida IFAS -
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP567
This note is part of Syzygium Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors