The stem of Clerodendrum glabrum var. glabrum may be tall and single or multi-stemmed and spreading from the base as in the photo. The tree grows a dense, dark, spreading crown. Old boles have bark that is grey-brown in colour, roughly fissured and sometimes flaking in narrow strips. Young stems are hairless and smooth, but covered in raised white dots or lenticels, scattered along their surfaces.

Stems at various stages of development are displayed in the photo that was taken in the Pretoria National Botanical Garden (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; Schmidt, et al, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).