Excoecaria cochinchinensis-Chinese Croton

[Eric in Orlando]

Anyone growing this shrub, Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Chinese Croton? Its in Euphorbiaceae. Has green leaves with a red underside. It grows in sun or shade. It is native to southeastern Asia. There is a variegated form, 'Firestorm'. It likes afternoon shade.

'Firestorm'

[ThunderSRQ]

Eric,

I have two of these (the variegated 'firestorm' variety) but they're still in little 4" pots -- do you know their cold tolerance and what I should expect re: their mature size? (I was planning on planting them under my oak canopy amongst the palms for some splashes of color)

Also, do you know if the sap is really "nasty"? (I heard it is very caustic to skin - ?)

Thanks,

Tim

Edited October 20, 2008 by ThunderSRQ

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Eric,

I think I may have both of these, although the variegated one bears no resemblance to the red backed one and I was not even thinking related.

I got the red backed one as a cutting. The owner called it Buffalos Tongue, but did not know the binomial. The variegated I purchased as a 3 gallon. Both take full sun, but the variegated seems to ned more water.

Still not convinced they are the same plant but I will look at them next time in the nursery.

Jerry

[Eric in Orlando]

Eric,

I have two of these (the variegated 'firestorm' variety) but they're still in little 4" pots -- do you know their cold tolerance and what I should expect re: their mature size? (I was planning on planting them under my oak canopy amongst the palms for some splashes of color)

Also, do you know if the sap is really "nasty"? (I heard it is very caustic to skin - ?)

Thanks,

Tim

Not sure of their ultimate cold tolerance but the green form tolerated low 30sF with no problm last winter so they aren't super tender. I would imagine about the same as "regular" crotons, Codiaeum.

According to GRIN this is where they are native to;

ASIA-TEMPERATE

China: China - Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan

Eastern Asia: Taiwan

ASIA-TROPICAL

Indo-China: Laos; Myanmar; Thailand; Vietnam

Also, not sure how caustic they are. It is a Euphorbiaceae so I would imagine the sap could possible be irritating to some people. Wouldn't want to get it in my eyes.

[Eric in Orlando]

Eric,

I think I may have both of these, although the variegated one bears no resemblance to the red backed one and I was not even thinking related.

I got the red backed one as a cutting. The owner called it Buffalos Tongue, but did not know the binomial. The variegated I purchased as a 3 gallon. Both take full sun, but the variegated seems to ned more water.

Still not convinced they are the same plant but I will look at them next time in the nursery.

Jerry

I saw both as bigger plants at Agristarts booth a few years ago at FNATS when they first introduced them. They looked pretty much to be the same, just one with variegation. I think the variegated form came out of Thailand. The variegated form is a slower grower so far.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I think the variegated plant I'm thinking of is a different species entirely. Now that I think of it, it only resembles it in the variegation coloring, but not structure.

Jerry