Croton

Sun

Bright filtered light to partial sun; established plants can tolerate full sun in humid tropical climates. Introduce stronger sun gradually and provide afternoon shade in hot, dry areas.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Water less in winter, but do not let the root ball dry completely or stand in water.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil with added organic matter; use a free-draining houseplant potting mix in containers.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m) outdoors; usually 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) indoors

Spread

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) outdoors

Foliage

Glossy, leathery evergreen leaves with contrasting veins, spots or patches. Leaf shapes range from broad and oval to narrow, lobed or twisted, depending on the cultivar.

Growth

Moderate in warm, humid conditions; slow indoors or in cool weather.

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.6 ft (0.79 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (2 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Slow

• Water thoroughly when the soil surface begins to dry, then empty saucers and cachepots.
• Feed container plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half the label strength monthly in spring and summer.
• Keep indoor plants away from cold draughts, heaters and sudden changes in temperature or light.
• Move summer containers indoors before nights regularly fall below 15°C (59°F), checking for pests first.
• Mulch outdoor plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the stems.

Pruning. Prune in spring or early summer once active growth begins, cutting long stems just above a leaf node to encourage branching. Wear gloves and protect your eyes from the irritating milky sap.

Spring

Repot only if roots fill the container, using a pot one size larger with drainage holes.

Spring

Shorten leggy stems and begin feeding when new growth appears.

Late spring

In cool climates, move plants outside only after nights stay above 15°C (59°F); start in sheltered shade.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently and inspect leaf undersides for mites and other sap-feeding pests.

Early autumn

Bring summer containers indoors before cool nights arrive and reduce feeding as growth slows.

Winter

Provide the brightest suitable indoor position, maintain warmth and reduce watering without letting roots dry out.

• Use as a bold container focal point beside a sheltered entrance or on a warm patio.
• Plant in groups beneath open-canopied tropical trees, where filtered light shows the leaf colours without harsh afternoon exposure.
• Combine with green-leaved palms, philodendrons and ferns to make the patterned foliage stand out.
• Use as an informal low hedge or mixed shrub border in frost-free gardens.

Garden styles it suits: Modern tropical, Tropical, Luxury resort, Modern courtyard, Caribbean and Balinese.

Plant it with: Cordyline, Philodendron, Bromeliads, Peace lily, Bird's nest fern and Areca palm.

Wildlife: Small flowers may attract insects in tropical gardens, but croton is mainly a foliage plant and is not a dependable wildlife food plant.

• Spider mites cause fine stippling and webbing, especially indoors: rinse leaf undersides and use insecticidal soap labelled for the plant, repeating as directed.
• Mealybugs and scale weaken growth and leave sticky honeydew: isolate affected pots, remove visible pests and treat with a suitable labelled horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
• Sudden leaf drop follows chilling, draughts, drying out or abrupt moves: restore steady warmth, light and watering; recovery may be slow.
• Root rot develops in persistently wet soil: improve drainage, empty standing water and repot into fresh mix if roots are decaying.

Toxic to people, cats and dogs if chewed or swallowed. All parts, particularly the milky sap, can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea; sap can also irritate skin and eyes. Effects are usually irritant rather than life-threatening, but seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion. Horse-specific toxicity information is limited; keep clippings and plants away from horses.

• Copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana)

  Its leaves are usually softer, more thinly textured and distinctly toothed, rather than the thick, glossy, mostly smooth-edged leaves of croton.

• Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

  Long, strap-shaped leaves cluster around upright cane-like stems and have parallel veins; croton leaves have branching veins and grow along woody shoots.

• Gold dust plant (Aucuba japonica)

  Leaves grow in opposite pairs and have coarse teeth along their edges. Croton leaves are alternate and generally lack those teeth.

The species name variegatum refers to the varied leaf colouring, while the common name croton survives from the plant's former placement in the genus Croton.

Propagation. Take leafy stem cuttings in late spring or summer and root in a moist, free-draining medium with warmth and high humidity. Air layering is useful for larger, leggy plants. Wear gloves when handling cut stems.

Accepted botanical name

Codiaeum variegatum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Fiji, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, New Guinea, Philippines, Queensland, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is. and Sulawesi.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.