Cerbera odollam (Chiute)

Cerbera sp. (Cerbera Enchanted Incense) purple and green leaves on a woody plant tree

Cerbera sp. (Cerbera Enchanted Incense) grows woody stems with deep purple and green leaves.

Botanical name: Cerbera odollam

Common names: Chiute, Chatthankai, Grey Milkwood, Sea Mango, Pong Pong Tree

Family: Apocynaceae

Origin: Southern Asia

USDA Zone: 10-11

Cold tolerance: 30°F

Plant form: Small tree

Mature height: 10-20 ft

Sun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor

Cold tolerance: Frost sensitive. Protect from freezing.

Watering: Regular

Flower color: White and off-white

Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing

Irritating or toxic: Toxic plant/plant part

Fragrance: Fragrant; perfume plant

Flood tolerance: High

This is a small to medium-sized tree with dark foliage and showy, white flowers which are very fragrant. The whorled leaves are crowded near the ends of rather thickish branches with conspicuous leaf scars below. The fragrant white flowers have a yellow throat. The fruits are often twinned, ellipsoid and speckled green. The seed coat is thin and after falling, soon decays, exposing fibrous tissue. Seeds are extremely poisonous. This plant is similar to Plumeria, but the leaves are smaller and slightly rolled with a reddish midrib. Pong Pong is one of popular ornamental plants which has unique characteristic. Its seed looks like a ball which has beautiful skin. It can be grown in a small pot to show on office desk or everywhere you want for decoration. Moreover when it grows enough, it also has beautiful shape, with white flowers and many young green seeds.

Growing from seed:
Place the seed horizontally on top of the soil and dig it in 1/3 size. It should sprout within 3-4 weeks at temperature above 80-85F (Will take much longer at cooler temepature). You may grow this plant like a "Lucky Bean" and place the pot on your desktop or a window sill. In the ground it will grow in a small-size (8-10 ft) bushy tree.

Cerbera odollam is similar to Cerbera manghas and in some sources these names are considered as synonims.