Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia (hopbush, "Hauchiwanoki")

Japanese name: ハウチワノキ （羽団扇木）
Scientific name: Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 2–4 m tall, found on coasts, wasteland and dry ridges.
The branches are angular and branch well.
Young branches and both surfaces of the leaves have many glandular dots and are sticky.
The leaves are simple and alternate, 5–10 cm long and 0.5–2.5 cm wide, oblanceolate, rather hard and hairless.
The leaf margin is entire.
There is almost no petiole.
The leaves turn red in winter.
The plant is dioecious or monoecious.
Short panicles appear at the branch tips.
There are male and female flowers, both without petals and small, 5 mm across.
The sepals are pale greenish yellow.
The fruit is a capsule with 3 broad wings.

[Uses]
Settlers in Australia used the fruit as a substitute for hops in brewing beer.
The wood is hard, and the Maori used it for weapons and axe handles.
It is also used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
To promote germination, soak the collected seeds in 80°C water for 30 minutes, leave them soaking for half a day to 2 days, and then sow.
It tolerates temperatures down to about –5°C, so it can be grown outdoors in the Kanto region and south.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
It also tolerates partial shade.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary if a base fertilizer is applied.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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