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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>Rheda</span> Thu, 07/13/2023 - 11:56
I read somewhere that if you move your plant the leaves (or some) will fall of...I'm fixing to move mine again.....it's just not growing where it is....
<span>Asim Rajput</span> Mon, 07/05/2021 - 06:20
I have some crotons in my backyard. First I had placed them directly in the sun in my garden and the temperature range was between 40C to 48C. Leaves started falling and some even had no leaf at all. I placed them in back yard in a shaded(fiber sheet on top) area some of them survived but some do bring new leaves now an than, and again the leaves are dropped and some of them have pest issues. I had placed a tray under the pot to avoid heat from the ground also. What is the Right Soil Mix and fertilizer that should be provided. What is the best practice to do pest control. Wish I could have shared pics to get the real time support
<span>Victoria</span> Tue, 05/25/2021 - 14:57
I treat this plant like a Peace Lily. I sit it in front of a window where it gets lots of direct light, and I only water it when the leaves droop (which is about every 2 weeks). I then use a large plastic cup like you would get from a fast food restaurant and fill that up twice with very lukewarm water (more cool than warm) and water it, and my plant has been flourishing! It’s very easy to maintain and take care of.
<span>Aryaa Piplani</span> Tue, 05/18/2021 - 05:26
I recently got a well-grown croton plant from a nursery. immediately after potting, its leaves started drooping. I am afraid that it would not survive. please help.
<span>Rebecca Stocum</span> Mon, 05/03/2021 - 08:03
How much of the stem should be covered with soil? I don't have a bushel of leaves, maybe a nice bundle, but they are on a stem that is 6 -7 inches above the soil? Do they just keep getting taller?
<span>Mike Diesu</span> Wed, 03/31/2021 - 05:54
How can I prevent my crotons from dropping leaves?
<span>Mary Alyce Claridge</span> Fri, 11/19/2021 - 19:21
Did you get any information on why leaves drop.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 04/05/2021 - 16:56

Leaf drop can be a sign of too much or too little water. Assess your watering and try to find a balance.

Dropped leaves can also indicate a shock of some sort—be it a move from low light to bright light, warm temps to cold temps, etc. 

 <span>Ann Bailey</span> Wed, 02/17/2021 - 23:18
My croton have dropped most of it's leaves. What is happening and can it be saved?
<span>Mavis Facas</span> Wed, 12/30/2020 - 18:34
My crotons were damaged by a bleach solution from commercial power washing and sealing. The plants lost most of the foliage but are not dying, stems bend but not break. When can I prune them.