Author Topic: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli  (Read 1830 times)

DurianLover

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Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
« 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.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2013, 09:30:30 AM by murahilin »

mangomike

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Re: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2013, 02:14:21 AM »
DurianLover,

This guy lists seeds on his site: 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.

DurianLover

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Re: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
« Reply #2 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 :)

mangomike

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Re: Wanted: Dragon's Blood Tree - Croton lechlerli
« Reply #3 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.