Houseplant
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum · Euphorbiaceae
Also called: Garden Croton, Variegated Croton, Joseph's Coat
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) is a low-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a moderate-growing houseplant.
Croton at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Bright light indoors, including several hours of direct sun, which intensifies its red/orange/yellow leaf color; insufficient light makes foliage revert toward plain green. In Tucson a bright east or filtered south window is ideal; shield from scorching afternoon sun through glass.
- Mature size
- Indoors typically 2-4 ft tall and wide; up to ~10 ft in tropical landscapes.
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Small, inconspicuous cream/white flowers; grown for foliage, rarely blooms indoors, N/A indoors
- Cold hardiness
- Very frost sensitive; keep above ~60F, ideal 65-80F, and away from cold drafts. Not cold hardy outdoors in Tucson winters.
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining peat/coir-based potting mix. Not desert soil.
- Native range
- Tropical Asia and the western Pacific (Indonesia, Malaysia and Pacific islands)
- Best used as
- Colorful indoor foliage accent, Interior decor for warm bright rooms
- Wildlife
- None relevant; grown indoors.
- Toxicity
- Toxic to dogs, cats and humans; the milky sap (Euphorbiaceae family) irritates skin, eyes, mouth and GI tract and can cause dermatitis. Keep away from pets and children.
How to grow Croton in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Grown indoors in Tucson. Keep evenly moist - water when the top inch dries, about every 5-7 days in summer and less in winter. It is sensitive to drying out (causing leaf drop) and to cold water; Tucson's dry indoor air makes it appreciate higher humidity (pebble tray/grouping). Avoid waterlogged soil.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed monthly with a balanced dilute liquid houseplant fertilizer in spring-summer; stop in winter. Micronutrients (including iron) help maintain color, especially given Tucson's alkaline water.
Pruning & care
Prune lightly in spring to shape and remove leggy growth; pinch tips to encourage bushiness. Wear gloves - the milky sap is an irritant.
Notes
Grown as an indoor houseplant in Tucson; low desert frost and very low humidity make it impractical outdoors, though it can summer outside in bright shade if protected from intense sun and brought in before cold. Prone to leaf drop from cold, drafts or drying out, and to spider mites/mealybugs in dry indoor air. Needs strong light to keep its vivid coloration.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (houseplant care); ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder