Codiaeum variegatum
Common name: Croton · Garden croton
Codiaeum variegatum is an evergreen shrub in the spurge family, native to Southeast Asia and the western Pacific islands. It is cultivated for its spectacularly colored foliage, which blazes in combinations of green, yellow, orange, red, and near-black. The brightest colors develop only in strong light, so indoor plants need a sunny window.
Care summary
Sun
Bright light; some direct sun for best color
Water
Keep evenly moist; dislikes drying out
Soil
Rich, well-draining potting mix
Hardiness
Zones 11–12
Mature height
Up to 3 m (10 ft) outdoors; smaller indoors
Pet safe
Toxic if ingested; sap can irritate skin
Difficulty
Fussy
Propagation
Propagate by stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer, or by air layering. Take 10-15 cm cuttings, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and root in warm, moist, free-draining mix with high humidity; rooting is slow and erratic without bottom heat. Note the milky sap irritates skin.
Fun facts
- A single species produces hundreds of cultivars with wildly different leaf shapes — twisted, ribbon-like, oak-lobed, and more.
- Leaf color intensifies with light: plants grown in shade revert toward plain green.
- Croton belongs to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), making it a relative of the poinsettia.
- Its colorful foliage is traditionally used in floral arrangements and ceremonial garlands in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.