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Excoecaria cochinchinensis ‘Firestorm’

COMMON NAMES

Firestorm Chinese Croton, Firestorm Blindness Tree

Excoecaria (ex-coe-CARE-ee-uh) – from the Latin for “to make blind”, in reference to belief that it caused blindness if gotten in eyes

cochinchinensis (coe-chin-chin-EN-siss) – old name for the country of Vietnam

‘Firestorm’ – cultivar name

OTHER NAMES / SYNONYMS

Excoecaria bicolor

GROUP 

Dicot

FAMILY 

Euphorbiaceae

ORIGIN

Species – Southeast Asia, China; Cultivar -

DESCRIPTION

Firestorm Chinese Croton is an evergreen shrub that averages 3 to 5 feet in height with a comparable spread. It can be dense if properly pruned and it is upright to spreading in form. The somewhat cascading branches work well in hanging baskets. It has a slow to moderate growth rate.

Leaves are evergreen, lanceolate in shape, simple, opposite in arrangement with somewhat wavy margins, shiny, and 3 to 5 inches long. The top of the leaf is variegated in color with medium green, cream, and touches of pink. The bottom of the leaf is maroon. New leaves are a deep red/maroon. As with many plants in the Euphorbia family, Chinese Crotons have a very milky sap.

Flowers are inconspicuous, dioecious, small, greenish-white in color, and are borne in axillary and terminal racemes. Spring to fall is the usual bloom time.

Fruit are red, fleshy, 3-lobed capsules containing ovate-shaped, smooth seeds.

HARDINESS

Hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 11, down to about 30 degrees F.

LIGHT

Full sun in the morning with some afternoon shade; part shade

SALT

Poor Salt Spray Tolerance – it’s risky for this plant to be put in a coastal area as it has minimal tolerance. It would require multiple layers of protection such as in a greenhouse, indoors, or in a small enclosed area such as a courtyard beyond the dunes.

SOIL

It prefers a rich, moist, well-drained soil, but it will grow on other well-drained soils.

WATERING

Once established, it has moderate drought tolerance, but it will be much healthier with irrigation in dry spells. Indoors, let the soil dry slightly between waterings.

FERTILIZER

It has no unusual needs. In general, apply a slow release balanced analysis during the growing season and lower nitrogen as winter approaches. Specifics depend on the nutrient holding capacity of the soil, the soil’s pH and a soil test if possible. Follow the fertilizer product label suggestions unless a soil test suggests something different.

PROPAGATION

Cuttings; air layering

PRUNING

Prune selectively to encourage branching.

PESTS

No pests of significance known

DISEASES

No diseases of significance known

OTHER

USES

Houseplant, hanging baskets, containers, mass plantings, colorful specimen plant

TOXICITY

A search of California Poison Control, ASPCA, Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this plant on any of their lists.

Caution: While it is hard to find on any specific list, it is known that the sap contains resin and compounds that are toxic if ingested, as well as being an irritant to skin and eyes.