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Croton Plant Care: How to Grow Bold, Colorful Foliage Indoors or Out

Codiaeum variegatum (Croton, Variegated Laurel, Garden Croton, Orange Jessamine) ; An outstanding colorful, multicolor and shapes of leaves textures. Ornamental plants. close up, natural sunlight.
Image Credit:
pisitpong2017/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Codiadeum variegatum
Toxicity
Toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Varies
Flower Color
White
Plant Type
Houseplants
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Looking for a houseplant that can outshine even your most colorful throw pillows? Meet the croton, the drama queen of the plant world! With its dazzling leaves splashed in fiery shades of green, yellow, orange, and red, this tropical showstopper instantly brightens any corner of your home. 

Don’t let its bold looks fool you, though: crotons are surprisingly easy to care for. Give them bright light, steady moisture, and a little humidity love, and they’ll reward you with color all year long.

The croton, also called “garden croton,” is a stunning houseplant known for its vibrant foliage that brings a touch of the tropics indoors. Native to Southeast Asia and Oceania, these evergreen shrubs boast leaves splashed with dramatic greens, yellows, oranges, and even reds. They come in a wide variety, with unique leaf shapes and color combinations. In the wild, they grow as large shrubs, reaching up to 10 feet tall (in the home or garden, they stay much smaller).

Beyond their captivating looks, crotons are generally easy to care for, making them ideal for both seasoned plant parents and enthusiastic beginners (see more great houseplants for beginners!). The key lies in mimicking their native tropical environment. They thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, mimicking the dappled light filtering through a rainforest canopy. Watering needs to be consistent, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Think of it as a light rain shower that drenches the earth without flooding it. Regular misting can be a welcome addition, especially in drier climates, as crotons appreciate a moderate level of humidity.

So, if you’re looking for a houseplant that adds a pop of color and a touch of the tropics, look no further than the croton. With its stunning foliage and relatively easy care requirements, this vibrant plant is sure to become a focal point in your home. With proper care, your croton can live for many years, bringing its unique beauty to your home!

Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous—especially the seeds—so it is not recommended for use in homes with curious pets or children. When damaged, croton produces a milky sap that can irritate the skin, too.

Planting

Planting Croton

  • When choosing a container for your croton, keep in mind that the plant will grow upright, which eventually may cause it to become top-heavy. Pick a container that won’t easily tip over when the croton gets larger. Or, plan to pot up to larger pots over time.
  • Use a well-draining potting mix. Croton likes to be kept moist but not wet.
  • In areas with warm, humid summers, croton can be grown outdoors as a unique and colorful landscape plant. They work well in tropical-themed containers or alongside annuals in the ground. When nighttime temperatures drop to around 50°F (10°C), croton will need to be taken indoors.

Growing

How to Care for Croton

  • Place croton in a sunny location such as an eastern, southern, or western window. If croton is getting too little light, its newer leaves will be less colorful.
  • Keep the soil evenly moist, but let it dry out between waterings.
  • If humidity is low in your home, mist around the leaves with water once a week or keep a tray of wet gravel near the plant.
  • Croton leaves are dust magnets. Gently wipe the leaves with a moist cloth twice a month to keep them clean and dust-free.
  • Fertilize the plant in spring and summer while the plant is actively growing. In fall and winter, fertilize more sparingly or refrain from fertilizing altogether.
  • New croton plants can be started with 4- to 6-inch stem cuttings. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water. After roots have formed, plant them in a small pot.
  • Repot the plant in the spring if it has grown too large for its current pot.
Croton 'Petra'. Photo by Karl Thomas Moore/Wikimedia Commons.
Croton ‘Petra’ (foreground). Photo by Karl Thomas Moore/Wikimedia Commons.

Pests and Problems

Croton plants are usually pest- and disease-free, though they are susceptible to common houseplant pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.

Types

  • ‘Petra’ is a popular cultivar. It has green leaves with red, orange, and yellow veins.
  • ‘Gold Star’ has green leaves that are splashed with bright gold “stars.”
  • ‘Eleanor Roosevelt’ has skinny leaves that range in color from burgundy to lime green. The leaves are mottled with bright yellow as if they were spray painted.
  • ‘Oakleaf’ has oak leaf–shaped dark green or bronze leaves with veins in yellow, orange, and red.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Croton are members of the Euphorbiaceae family of plants, which makes them relatives of the poinsettia and the cast iron plant.

Houseplant Guides

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Kathleen</span> Thu, 03/17/2022 - 12:25
I have my croton in a southern window and turn it regularly and water it when the leaves droop. It did well for about a year but now the bottom leaves are turning brown and dry. Should I remove the leaves? I love the plant and want to do all I can to help it thrive.
<span>June</span> Thu, 07/14/2022 - 11:13
My croton plant is 3 years old. The top has beautiful leaves but the bottom leaves are drooping. Should they be cut off? Presently I am unable to keep it in the window for sun. The plant is a container within a container. I add water every other Sunday. The roots are plentiful. Should they be cut off? I would appreciate a response asap. Thank you!
<span>Holly</span> Wed, 05/18/2022 - 15:33
Hi Kathleen, yes go ahead a take those leaves off. In the winter months almost all the leaves fall off of both of mine. Then we set them outside water and fertilize and it amazing to watch the new leaves start to grow!
<span>Carol</span> Sat, 02/26/2022 - 14:14
My Petra croton variegated is about 5 years old possibly more. Short in pot. Done very well where is settled. All of a sudden tiny flowers appeared close To one of the leaves. Sticky sap slightly running off. Seems to possibly be a New leaf beginning to grow very close to it. Is this a BAD thing? Very shocked At the new happening. Thanks. Hope you can tell me what is happening.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 03/03/2022 - 13:54

Flowers aren't bad! But, if you'd prefer the plant to focus on growing new leaves, you can pinch off the flower stalk. Overall: nothing to worry about!

 <span>April Huber</span> Wed, 01/26/2022 - 02:18
If I'm not mistaken I received one of these from my uncles funeral, we left it in the car over night by accident and it dropped to like 20 degrees that night. I'm almost positive I threw it into shock because I Instantly took it from the freezing car into hotel room where it was warm. It hasn't been right since, all of the leaves have drooped and it looks almost dead. Is there anything I can do to save it
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 01/26/2022 - 14:32

Given time, it should recover. Its current leaves likely received too much cold damage to recover, so don't be surprised if they drop off the plant. Just keep it in a warm area and be careful not to overwater it. 

 <span>D. Morris</span> Sat, 01/15/2022 - 16:33
Curious, what do you with one that is "leggy"? The plant is growing toward light on thin woody stalks that are very long. Can the stalks be cut and repotted?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 01/20/2022 - 10:15

Crotons can be pruned in late winter or early spring, before they produce new growth for the year. Pruning off leggy stalks will encourage the remaining stalks to branch and produce new foliage. Alternatively, you could try air-layering and then repot the leggy stalks. 

 <span>Margaret</span> Fri, 12/31/2021 - 10:49
My plant-started dropping leaves after I watered it because it was dry, what can I do to regrow the leaves