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Codiaeum spp.
crotons
Southeast Asia, Indonesia, northern Australia, and the western Pacific islands
Overview
Codiaeum spp. is a small genus of evergreen shrubs in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native to Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, of which the garden croton, C. variegatum, is the species grown around the world. Plants form upright, bushy stems 2 to 6 ft (60 to 180 cm) tall indoors and up to 10 ft (3 m) in tropical gardens. The leaves are thick, leathery, and glossy, varying from narrow to broad and sometimes twisted or lobed, and are marked in combinations of green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple, with the brightest color produced in strong light. The small star-shaped flowers are creamy white and hang in slender chains. Like other spurges, broken stems and leaves bleed a milky latex that irritates skin and is poisonous to pets and people if eaten. The genus needs warmth, humidity, and bright light, and is hardy outdoors only in frost-free climates of USDA zones 10 to 12. Sudden changes in light, temperature, or watering cause the plant to drop its lower leaves.
Native Range
Codiaeum spp. is native to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, northern Australia, and the islands of the western Pacific, where it grows in tropical forest and scrub. The garden croton has been carried far beyond this range as an ornamental and is now planted throughout the tropics.Suggested Uses
Codiaeum spp. is grown as a colorful foliage houseplant and, in frost-free climates, as a hedge, screen, or accent shrub in tropical and subtropical gardens. Indoors it is used as a floor or table plant in bright rooms, and the cut stems are used in tropical floral arrangements. Outdoor plants are spaced 2 to 3 ft (60 to 90 cm) apart for a continuous hedge.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 10'
Width/Spread2' - 5'
Bloom Information
Flowering is occasional, mostly on mature plants in warm conditions, and the small creamy-white star-shaped flowers hang in slender chains from the leaf axils. Male and female flowers are separate, the females rounder and without petals. Plants grown indoors flower only now and then.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
small, star-shaped, creamy whiteFoliage Description
green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple variegationGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Codiaeum spp. grows in bright light, including several hours of direct sun, which deepens the leaf color, at warm temperatures above 60 F (16 C) and in a rich, free-draining mix at a pH of about 5.5 to 7.0. The soil is kept evenly moist in the growing season and slightly drier in winter, with raised humidity in dry indoor air. Too little light turns new leaves plain green, and dry air or drought leads to leaf drop and spider mites. Monthly feeding through spring and summer supports steady growth. The milky sap stains and irritates skin, so the latex is kept off bare hands and eyes during pruning. Mealybugs, scale, and spider mites are the main indoor pests.Pruning
Prune Codiaeum spp. in spring to shape the plant and control height, cutting stems just above a leaf node, from which new branches form. Pinching the growing tips makes the plant bushier and fuller at the base. The cut stems release the irritant milky latex, which is kept off skin and eyes.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons