Crotons

How to choose a croton

Leaf shape and pattern are the main differences. The Croton is the broad leaved type most people picture, with veins and blotches that colour up as each leaf ages. The Gold Dust Croton has smaller green leaves spattered with yellow spots, and tends to make a dense, twiggy bush that clips well. The Mammy Croton has narrow leaves that twist and curl, in a mix of red, yellow and green. The Speckled Croton is another spotted form.

For an indoor pot, the compact, smaller leaved kinds are easier to place. In a warm garden, the broad leaved types give the most colour from a distance.

Where crotons grow

Outdoors, crotons suit tropical and subtropical gardens, from Darwin and Cairns down the coast to about Coffs Harbour, and sheltered frost free spots further south. There they grow one to three metres tall, depending on the variety. They are frost tender, and leaves are damaged once nights fall much below 10 degrees for long. In warm temperate and cool climates, grow them indoors or move the pot out to a sheltered patio only for the warmest months.

Colour is strongest in bright light. Outdoors that means morning sun or light broken shade; indoors, the brightest position you have, close to a window. In deep shade the new leaves come through mostly green. Crotons mix well with other tropical plants and are among the more colourful indoor plants for a sunny room. See also our plants for subtropical climates.

Planting and spacing

In the garden, plant in spring or early summer in well drained soil improved with compost. Space plants about a metre apart for a mass of colour, or 60 to 80 centimetres apart for a low hedge. Mulch well, as the roots are shallow and dislike drying out. In pots, use a quality potting mix and a container with drainage holes, and repot in the warm months only.

Care basics

Keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months and a little drier in winter. Crotons like humidity, so indoors keep them away from heaters and air conditioning vents, and wipe the leaves now and then to remove dust. Feed from spring to autumn with a controlled release fertiliser.

Crotons drop leaves when they are cold, when they dry out, or when they are moved to a new position. A newly arrived plant may shed some lower leaves while it adjusts; leave it in one bright spot, keep the watering steady, and new growth follows. Tip prune in spring to keep plants bushy. The milky sap irritates skin and stains clothes, so wear gloves when pruning. All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and people if eaten, so place it out of reach of children and animals that chew.

Common questions

Why is my croton dropping leaves?

The usual causes are cold, a draught, dry soil or a recent move. Find it a warm, bright position, keep the mix evenly moist and then leave it alone. It will reshoot once it settles.

Can crotons grow outside?

Yes, all year in tropical and subtropical gardens without frost. In cooler climates they are indoor plants that can spend summer outdoors in a sheltered spot.

Why are the new leaves green?

Not enough light. Move the plant somewhere brighter and the colour returns in the next flush of growth. Many crotons also open green and colour as the leaf matures.

Are crotons poisonous?

Yes. All parts are toxic to pets and people if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin.