The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Buy, Sell & Trade => Topic started by: DurianLover on March 23, 2013, 11:27:04 PM

Title: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
Post by: DurianLover on March 23, 2013, 11:27:04 PM
I'm looking Dragon's Blood tree (Croton lechlerli) aka Sangre de Drago. It seems like very beneficial and wanted to have it it my collection for quite a few years now. I'm not certain how its propagated, but apparently it produces fruit, so I guess its propagated by seeds. Not sure on edibility of the fruit. If anyone has a source or any leads towards it, I would highly appreciate.
Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
Post by: mangomike on March 29, 2013, 02:14:21 AM
DurianLover,

This guy lists seeds on his site: http://www.kiwiboancaya.net (http://www.kiwiboancaya.net)

There has been some discussion on another forum that he is somewhat unreliable  (at least as far as shipping live plants from Peru) but seeds may not be so problematic.

I worked in a botanical garden that had a tree, they are very fast growing up to 25-30 ft in 2 - 3 years from seed.. Reportedly rather short lived 5-7 years,  or 3-5 years if regularly tapped for their medicinal latex.  If you order seeds and receive them please post your results here; I would be interested to know if the seller comes through. so I could recommend him to others with more confidence.
Title: Re: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
Post by: DurianLover on March 29, 2013, 04:41:16 PM
Thank you mangomike. Actually I goggled for seeds after posting and found that site. Silly me, should have done that first :)

I'm very impressed by the growth rate. I was thinking it will be more like a rubber tree. Slow to start than tap it for 100 years. I hope seeds will be viable, otherwise I may ask you to use your contacts at botanical garden :)
Title: Re: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
Post by: mangomike on April 05, 2013, 07:09:04 PM
In wet tropical climates like its native Amazon or in windward Hawaii it exploits light gaps in the forest, like where a mature tree falls or a pasture begins. Once it begins to flower it seeds the light gap and can colonize an area pretty quickly.

The red latex really does work well as a wound healing agent, I have used it on some deep cuts (careful with that grafting knife!) and they heal quickly without infection.