Luculia (genus, "Assamunioizakura")

Japanese name: アッサムニオイザクラ
Scientific name: Luculia

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub or small tree.
The leaves are simple and opposite, thick, and entire.
Interpetiolar stipules are present.
Corymbs or panicles at the stem tips bear many flowers.
The flowers are white to pink; the corolla is salverform, with a long tube and 5 lobes at the tip, and there is often an appendage at the throat of the tube.
The flowers are fragrant.
The fruit is a capsule, and the seeds are winged.

[History]
Many of the cultivars in circulation have been bred from Luculia pinceana and L. gratissima.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It prefers well-drained soil.
Keep it in the sun from autumn to spring, and in summer move it to cool, airy partial shade.
It can overwinter outdoors if not exposed to frost, but it is safer to bring it indoors to a sunny spot in winter.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, but because it dislikes heat and humidity, keep it somewhat dry in summer.
In spring and autumn, place slow-release fertilizer on the soil.
It is a short-day plant that sets flower buds as the days shorten, so from September onward, when the buds form, avoid exposing it to artificial light at night; it helps to cover it every day from 17:00 until morning with a cardboard box or similar to block the light.
When flowering ends, cut it back leaving 2–3 nodes above ground level to keep a compact shape.
Pests include aphids and spider mites.

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