Croton

( KROH - tawn )

At-A-Glance Information

This diverse genus, commonly called Rushfoil or simply Croton, includes species of herbs, shrubs, and trees that are native to pantropical and temperate regions of the world. About 150 species are native to Madagascar. These plants range widely in habit and size, and are used as ornamentals in tropical gardens or indoors as houseplants. Take care when planting Croton in the landscape or using them as indoor plants, as all plant parts are toxic to humans, pets and livestock if ingested.

Croton Species and Varietals

The genus Croton is a member of the plant family Euphorbiaceae, and includes about 1,300 species. the genus name is derived from the Greek word for a sheep-tick to which the seeds of member species bear a resemblance. They can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 11-12 and are kept as indoor or greenhouse plants in cooler zones. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Croton alabamensis (Alabama Croton)
Endemic to Texas, this species forms a semi-evergreen shrub that reaches up to between 1.5 and 11.5 feet tall when mature. Individual plants form loose clonal colonies (called 'privet brakes'), but can also be pruned into a single-trunked, dense shrub. Leaves are green.

Croton californicus (California Croton)
This perennial species is native to California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Baja California. It forms a small shrub to around 3 feet tall. Foliage is grey-green and stems are brown. Plants can be shrubby or have prostrate stems. Flowers are yellowish.

Croton capitatus (Hogwort, Woolly Croton, Goatweed)
This species forms an annual plant with erect, branching stems clothed in green to greyish-green foliage. The entire plant is covered with light brown, woolly hairs that give it a whitish appearance. Individual plants reach up to between 8 and 36 inches tall when mature. These plants are native to the eastern United States, and prefer to grow in dry, open landscapes. This species is considered a problematic weed in pastures and disturbed areas in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and the Carolinas, as it is toxic to livestock. It is not considered invasive.

Croton eluteria (Cascarilla)
Native to the Caribbean, this species has naturalized in many tropical regions in the Americas. It grows to form a tall shrub or small tree, and reaches up to 20 feet tall when mature. Leaves are green on top with a metallic, silver-bronze appearance below. Flowers are small and have white petals, Bark is scented and can have fissures, and is typically yellow-brown. Cascarilla bark is used to flavor the liqueurs Campari and Vermouth.

Croton glandulosus (Vete Conmigo, Tooth-Leaved Croton, Tropic Croton, Sand Croton)
Plants in this species are considered weedy, and are native to the central and eastern United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and tropical regions of South America. It is considered a weed in the southeastern United states, where it is a problem in peanut, corn, soybean, cotton, and other crop fields.

Croton gratissimus (Lavender Croton, Lavender Fever Berry, Maquassi, Bergboegoe)
This species is native to south and east regions of the African continent. It is often found growing in rocky terrain, and forms a small tree or shrub with corky bark. Individual plants can reach up to 26 feet tall when mature. Leaves are slender and green and when crushed release a pleasant scent reminiscent of that of Sweet Flag. Flowers are rust-colored.

Croton hancei (Hong Kong Croton)
This shrub or small tree is endemic to Tsing Yi Island, Hong Kong. It forms a shrub or small tree to 16 feet tall. Leaves emerge golden to light green and mature to deep green. This species is considered rare, rediscovered in 1997 after a century.

Croton lechleri (Sangre de Grado, Sangre de Drago, Sangre de Grada)
This species is native to northwestern regions of South America, and is known for its thick, red latex which can be used as a liquid bandage. Flowers are greenish-white to amber in color, and leaves are green. Foliage is evergreen, and individual trees can grow to reach up to 66 feet tall when mature.

Croton setiger (Croton setigerus) (Turkey Mullein, Fish Locoweed, Dove Weed, Yerba del Pescado, Fishing Herb)
Native to the western United States and northwestern Mexico, this species has naturalized in Australia and Chile. It forms a squat plant with furry, felt-like foliage covered in soft bristles. It is used as an ornamental plant. Leaves are used as a fish toxin to make them easier to catch.

Caring for Croton

Plant Croton shrubs and trees in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best overall growth rate. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered to be drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental waterings in extended periods of drought. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Croton plants do not need to be fertilized, though in particularly thin soils, they may benefit from a yearly feeding with 2 inches of compost applied to the soil surface. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flowers to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Croton species can be annuals or perennials; most annual species are not grown ornamentally, and are considered weeds of disturbed areas and agricultural lands. Perennial species can last for upwards of 40 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

Croton shrubs and trees can be propagated by cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Croton, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Croton by Seed

To propagate by seed, you will need a container, a pot or tray, potting medium, and a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seeds are located inside capsules, which are yellow to black in color and pop open to scatter their seeds when mature. They typically contain three seeds.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them lightly with soil and water with a spray bottle. Place the sown seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-4 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of a fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet. Keep your seedling in an area with bright light and temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.

Propagating Croton by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late summer or early fall, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances the cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch softwood or semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. It should be kept in warm, sunny conditions in a protected area. Water whenever the soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, the cutting should be rooted. New growth indicates the formation of roots.
Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when the seedling can be hardened off and then planted outdoors.