Family: Euphorbiaceae

Native to Southern India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia, the croton thrives in high-humidity, low-light forests. A small evergreen, the croton produces colorful leaf displays all year long in almost all the colors of the rainbow. The striking foliage is thick, glossy, and smooth. The plant needs bright light for colorful leaf production. The colors and leaf shapes are vast; the color combinations can be variegated, blotched, or striped.

Reproduction is vegetative with cuttings, 4 inches long with a few leaves. Rooting hormones may speed up the rooting process, but it is not necessary.

It is a beautiful indoor plant as long as it has bright indirect light. Let it dry out in between waterings. The lack of pests, ease of propagation, and colorful foliage make the croton popular.

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Hedge
• Indoor plant
• Ornamental

Plant Dangers:

• Toxic to animals
• Toxic to humans
• Toxic to animals and humans

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized (O'ahu)
  
• Toxic to animals
  
• Host for pests
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates varied soils
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Intentionally dispersed by humans

Low Risk Traits:

• Not invasive in introduced areas
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not allelopathic or parasitic
  
• Safe for humans
  
• Does not form thickets
  
• Limited seed production & dispersal
  
• No persistent seed bank
  
• Susceptible to herbicides