The illustrated growing guide
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum
Family Euphorbiaceae
Est. zones 11-12
Stained-glass foliage — red, orange, gold in one leaf. Famous for dropping every leaf when relocated, then releafing. Not a plant for cold windowsills.
Bright light incl
Moderate water
Moderate growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing croton? Hang it.
Our Houseplants Vol. 2 collection carries croton — Codiaeum variegatum, print Nº 4, “Croton.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will croton suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what croton actually needs.
Hardy inZones 11-12Croton at a glance
Common croton problems
- Spider Mites
- Mealybugs
- Leaf drop from cold/drafts/moving
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow croton: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate croton
III
The year
What croton asks for, month by month.
The croton year, month by month
PruneWhat each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The croton year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May pruning
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Croton in the garden system
What croton is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesToxic to pets; milky sap irritates skin
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of croton, ruled as a catalogue.
Best croton varieties & cultivars
'Petra' (classic); 'Gold Dust'; 'Mammy' (twisted)
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to crotonyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
VIII
Questions
Croton questions, answered straight.
Is croton safe for kids and pets?
With care. Toxic to pets; milky sap irritates skin Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate croton?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
IX
Elsewhere
Where croton sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron