Croton
Codiaeum spp.
Croton Plant Features
One of the boldest houseplants around, you can't miss crotons because of their colorful foliage. Often boldly marked with bright yellow, orange, red, and even black, crotons are perfect for adding a tropical touch to indoor decor. They're particularly eye-catching in bright dining rooms and living rooms where their foliage helps energize a room.
Boost croton's appeal even more by growing yours in a colorful pot that accents the brilliantly colored foliage.
Croton Questions?
If you have questions about your crotons, just email our experts!
Croton Growing Instructions
Grow crotons in a bright spot: They like lots of light to produce all those colorful leaves. If your croton doesn't get enough light, you might find the plant grows tall and lanky, with few leaves that don't have deep, rich hues. Ideally, your croton should cast a good strong shadow much of the day where you grow it. Happily, it thrives in both natural and artificial light.
Water crotons when the top couple of inches of the potting mix starts to dry. They're not as thirsty as many other common houseplants (such as peace lily, fittonia, or polka dot plant), but do need regular watering. Crotons will drop their older leaves if they stay too wet or too dry for extended periods. If you're not sure whether it's time to water your croton, it's usually better to let it stay a little too dry than too wet over time.
Like most houseplants, they also appreciate abundant humidity. You can boost humidity for your croton by growing it in a well-lit kitchen or bathroom, placing a small humidifier nearby, or grouping it nearby other houseplants.
Fertilize croton in spring and summer to keep it healthy and growing. Crotons only need fertilizer once or twice during the season, but you can get them to grow faster by fertilizing more frequently. Follow the directions on the fertilizer package whenever feeding your plants.
Special Care
Outdoors in the North, crotons make for fun container plants, boldly accenting other favorites such as lantana, angelonia, and pentas. In warm-winter climates that don't see frost, crotons grow as lively landscape shrubs. They're often used as dramatic hedges or bold focal points in the yard. They do best in full sun or partial shade.
Note: Crotons are not meant for human or animal consumption.
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Light
Indoors: High light
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Colors
Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Silver, Variegated, White, Yellow
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Water
Medium water needs
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Special Features
Colorful foliage
Purifies the air
Question
It sounds like your crotons are suffering from an insect infestation. The black stuff you're seeing is a harmless side effect; you should be able to easily wash it off the plant with room-temperature water and a soft cloth. Treat for the insects to prevent the black powder (called sooty mold) from coming back.
Varieties: Our Favorites

Codiaeum 'Andrew'
Andrew is a stunning and popular variety that shows off long, narrow leaves streaked in creamy white.

Codiaeum 'Banana'
Smaller than other crotons, Banana features little lance-shaped green leaves spotted in bright banana-yellow.
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Codiaeum 'Bush on Fire'
Bush on Fire croton is aptly named because its long leaves are splashed and stippled in shades of red, orange, gold, and purple.
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Codiaeum 'Eleanor Roosevelt'
A classic variety, Eleanor Roosevelt croton boasts narrow, mid-green leaves flushed with purple and speckled in golden yellow.

Codiaeum 'Gold Dust'
Commonly grown as a landscaping shrub in frost-free areas, Gold Dust features narrow green leaves heavily spotted in golden yellow. It thrives indoors, as well, in a high-light spot.

Codiaeum 'Gold Star'
It's easy to see where Gold Star croton earned its moniker; the green leaves are liberally splashed with bright gold, like a constellation of stars on each leaf.
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Codiaeum 'Lauren's Rainbow'
Showing off long, narrow leaves, Lauren's Rainbow is a fantastic accent to other croton varieties.
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Codiaeum 'Magnificent'
"Wow" is what everyone will say when they see Magnificent croton in your home! The colorful leaves are festively speckled with green, red, and orange. No two are alike!
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Codiaeum 'Mammy'
A classic variety, Mammy croton's leaves twist and curl as they grow, adding color and texture!
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Codiaeum 'Mother and Daughter'
The long, narrow leaves of Mother and Daughter croton end in a point that look to hold another little leaf on this interesting, exotic croton.

Codiaeum 'Mrs. Iceton'
Mrs. Iceton is a living work of art; each medium-green leaf is brightly shaded with golden, yellow, orange, and red hues.

Codiaeum 'Oakleaf'
Oakleaf croton features interesting lobed leaves, giving the plant extra texture (and lending it its name). Each dark green leave is accented with veins and strips of yellow, orange, and red.

Codiaeum 'Petra'
Perhaps the most common croton available, Petra has shield shaped leaves veined in red, orange, and yellow.
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Codiaeum 'Red Iceton'
Going through a color change, Red Iceton croton's leaves start out a warm yellow shade and as they mature, they develop striking red and pink tones.

Codiaeum 'Sunny Star'
Adding color to your home or office with light green leaves dotted in gold, Sunny Star is a surefire winner.
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Codiaeum 'Superstar'
Superstar features bright green leaves heavily splashed in yellow.

Codiaeum 'Victoria Gold Bell'
A beauty with long, almost grassy leaves, Victoria Gold Bell is often variegated with orange, yellow, or purple.

Codiaeum 'Yellow Iceton'
Yellow Iceton features mid-green foliage that features lush yellow variegation.

Codiaeum 'Zanzibar'
A croton that stands out from the pack (and that's saying something with this wild group of plants), Zanzibar almost looks like an ornamental grass with narrow, arching leaves splashed in red, gold, orange, and purple.