Dodonaea viscosa (hopbush, "Hauchiwanoki")

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

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 2–4 m tall, found on seashores, wasteland and dry ridges.
The branches are angular and branch often.
Young branches and both surfaces of the leaves have many glandular dots and are sticky.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblanceolate, 5–10 cm long and 0.5–2.5 cm wide, somewhat hard and hairless.
The leaf margin is entire.
There is almost no petiole.
The leaves turn red in winter.
It is dioecious or monoecious.
Short panicles arise at the branch tips.
There are male flowers 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]
The fruits were used by settlers in Australia as a substitute for hops in brewing beer.
The wood is hard and was used by the Maori for weapons and axe handles.
It is also used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
To promote germination, soak freshly collected seeds in 80°C water for 30 minutes, leave them in the water 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 southward.
It prefers fertile, sunny, well-drained 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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