Croton
Croton is a vegetable in the Euphorbiaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-12.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Croton
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tropical houseplant (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Vividly colored leathery foliage. Note: Sap is irritating; toxic to pets.
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) is a bold tropical foliage plant with leathery leaves splashed in red, orange, yellow and green; needs bright light to keep its color.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Codiaeum variegatum|Hardiness zones: 10-12|Propagation: cutting|Light: Bright light|Water: Medium|Mature size: 3-6 feet
Plan your croton planting
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Start your free plan →Croton care at a glance
The brightest spot you have — several hours of direct sun keeps the red-orange-yellow variegation saturated. In dim light a croton fades to plain green.
Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil dries; crotons like steady moisture but sulk (and drop leaves) in a soggy pot.
Average to slightly humid rooms are fine; very dry air invites spider mites and dulls the foliage.
Keep above 55°F — cold damage starts below that.
A rich, well-draining potting mix; add perlite if water lingers.
Balanced fertilizer monthly through spring and summer; pause in winter.
In winter: Water less often in winter but never let it sit next to a cold window or draft — chill is what strips a croton bare.
The milky sap irritates skin, and chewing any part causes vomiting and drooling in pets — wear gloves when pruning and keep clippings away from animals.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate croton
Stem cuttings
- Take a 4–6 in tip cutting with 3–5 leaves; let the milky sap stop flowing (wear gloves).
- Dip in rooting hormone and set in moist perlite-peat mix.
- Enclose in a bag or propagator to hold warmth and humidity.
- Roots form in 4–8 weeks at 70–80°F; pot up and acclimate to bright light.
Common croton problems
Why is my croton dropping leaves?
Likely cause: Change and chill — crotons famously shed after a move, a repot, a cold draft, or a watering swing.
Fix: Pick a warm, bright spot and leave it there; keep watering steady. A settled croton releafs along the stem within a few weeks.
Why is my croton losing its color?
Likely cause: Not enough light — the vivid pigments only develop in strong sun.
Fix: Move it to your sunniest window (acclimate over a week to avoid scorch); new growth will color up.
Does my croton have spider mites?
Likely cause: Stippled, dusty-looking leaves with fine webbing — mites thrive on crotons in warm, dry rooms.
Fix: Shower the plant, wipe leaves top and bottom, and treat weekly with insecticidal soap until clear; raising humidity slows reinfestation.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for croton yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.