Japanese name: テイキンザクラ（提琴桜） Scientific name:Jatropha integerrima
[Overview]
An evergreen shrub about 1–3 m tall.
It branches well.
The leaves are alternate and elliptic-ovate, sometimes constricted.
Cymes at the branch tips bear 5–8 five-petaled flowers, about 2.5 cm across, in deep rose red to pink.
The fruit is a capsule.
[History]
It was introduced to Japan in 1965.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
For cuttings, wash the cut end with water immediately or soak it in water to wash off the white milky sap, then let the cut end dry before inserting it.
A temperature of 15 °C or higher is desirable for overwintering, but it can overwinter if brought into a sunny place indoors and kept on the dry side.
It prefers a sunny, well-ventilated, well-drained soil.
Take care not to let it become too wet; from spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil dries, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
It tolerates dryness well.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release chemical fertilizer placed on the soil.
Scale insects can occur.
[Notes]
The Japanese name likens the constricted leaves to a violin (teikin).
