Excoecaria cochinchinensis (Chinese croton, "Seishiboku")

Japanese name: セイシボク （青紫木）
Scientific name: Excoecaria cochinchinensis

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 1–2 m tall.
White latex comes out when the stems or leaves are damaged.
It branches well.
The leaves are usually simple and opposite, narrowly oblong to oblong, 6–14 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, thin and papery, dark glossy green on the upper surface, and bright purplish red to deep reddish brown on the underside.
The leaf margins have inconspicuous low, blunt serrations.
The plants are dioecious.
Racemes arise from the leaf axils and branch tips; the male inflorescences are 1–2 cm long, and the female inflorescences are shorter than the male ones and bear 3–5 flowers.
The flowers are small and inconspicuous.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
For cuttings, immediately wash the cut end with water or soak it in water to remove the white latex, then let the cut end dry before inserting it.
The latex is poisonous and causes a rash if it gets on the skin, so wear gloves when working.
Also take care that it does not get into the eyes or mouth.
Keep it at 12°C or above for overwintering.
It prefers bright shade and well-drained soil.
Take care not to let it dry out; from spring to autumn water thoroughly when the soil dries, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
Spider mites can occur.

[Notes]
It is a poisonous plant, and the latex may cause a rash if it touches the skin.

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