Botanical Name: Excoecaria cochinchinensis
Family: Euphorbiaceae

The Chinese Croton (Excoecaria cochinchinensis) is an ornamental shrub native to Southeast Asia. It is admired for its striking foliage, with dark green leaves on the upper side and vibrant maroon to burgundy undersides, creating a dramatic contrast. This shrub grows up to 3-6 feet tall and is often used in tropical and subtropical gardens for hedges, borders, or as an accent plant. It thrives in partial to full shade with well-drained soil, making it a great choice for understory planting. While it adds beauty to landscapes, care should be taken as all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested and its sap can cause skin irritation.