Croton Mammy

Sun

Bright filtered light to partial sun. Gentle morning sun helps develop colour; acclimatise gradually before exposing indoor-grown plants to direct outdoor sun.

Water

Keep the root ball evenly moist but not waterlogged during active growth. Let the surface dry slightly before watering again, and water less in winter.

Soil

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

Height

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m), usually smaller indoors

Spread

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Leathery, narrow to oblong leaves twist and curl, with irregular green, yellow, orange, red and sometimes burgundy markings. Colour varies with light, leaf age and growing conditions.

Growth

Moderate in warm, bright conditions; slow indoors in winter.

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant

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

   2.1 ft (0.63 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.5 ft (0.76 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.9 ft (0.89 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.2 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 surface begins to dry, then empty any saucer or decorative outer pot.
• Feed container plants monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate.
• Keep plants away from cold draughts, heating vents and sudden changes in temperature or light.
• Bring outdoor containers inside before nights fall below 15°C (59°F).
• Wipe leaves periodically and inspect their undersides for mites and scale insects.

Pruning. In spring or early summer, shorten leggy shoots just above a leaf node to encourage branching, and remove dead wood. Wear gloves and protect your eyes from the irritating milky sap.

Spring

Prune leggy growth and repot if roots have filled the container, using a pot only slightly larger.

Late spring

Move containers outdoors only when nights remain above 15°C (59°F), gradually increasing their exposure to light.

Summer

Check moisture frequently and feed monthly while plants are actively growing.

Late summer

Inspect leaf undersides and stems for mites, mealybugs and scale, especially before moving plants indoors.

Autumn

Bring containers into a bright, warm room before nights become cool.

Winter

Reduce watering and stop feeding if growth has slowed; maintain bright light and stable warmth.

• Use as a colourful container specimen beside a warm, sheltered entrance or patio.
• Plant in small groups beneath palms in frost-free gardens, contrasting the curled foliage with large green leaves.
• Combine with dark-leaved cordylines and green philodendrons for a layered tropical planting.
• Use as a low foliage accent in bright conservatories or heated garden rooms.

Garden styles it suits: Modern tropical, Tropical, Luxury resort, Modern courtyard, Caribbean and Small-space.

Plant it with: Cordyline, Bromeliads, Philodendrons, Peace lilies and Dwarf umbrella trees.

Wildlife: Provides some cover in tropical gardens but has limited wildlife value as a container plant. It is grown for foliage rather than as a pollinator plant.

• Leaf drop: cold, draughts, abrupt changes in light, or inconsistent watering are common causes; provide stable warmth and check root-ball moisture before watering.
• Spider mites: fine webbing and pale stippling develop, particularly in dry indoor air; rinse foliage thoroughly and use insecticidal soap labelled for the pest if needed.
• Mealybugs and scale: inspect stems and leaf undersides, isolate affected plants, and treat with a suitable labelled insecticidal soap or horticultural oil after testing a small area.
• Root rot: yellowing and wilting in persistently wet soil indicate trouble; improve drainage, remove rotten roots and repot into fresh, free-draining mix.

Toxic to cats, dogs and people if chewed or swallowed; leaves, stems and sap can cause mouth irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea. The milky sap can irritate skin and eyes. Horse-specific toxicity information is limited, so keep it away from grazing animals and never put prunings in paddocks.

• Petra croton (Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra')

  Has broader, mostly flat oval leaves with conspicuous coloured veins; Mammy has narrower leaves that curl and twist.

• Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

  Has long, strap-shaped leaves with parallel veins, often clustered at the tops of cane-like stems; Mammy has branching stems and leathery, curled leaves with netted veins.

The botanical name variegatum means variegated, referring to the plant's multicoloured foliage.

Propagation. Take leafy stem cuttings in late spring or summer, wearing gloves to avoid the sap. Root in a moist, free-draining propagation mix with warmth and high humidity; air layering is another option for larger stems. Seed does not reliably reproduce the cultivar.

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.