Croton

Croton is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae that comprises hundreds of species of evergreen shrubs and small trees. Native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific, crotons are widely cultivated for their striking foliage. The leaves are typically glossy and leathery, often with variegated patterns in green, yellow, orange, red, and purple. In cultivation, many ornamental crotons sold for foliage are placed in the related genus Codiaeum, particularly Codiaeum variegatum, though they are still commonly referred to as crotons.

Several Croton species contain milky latex and can be toxic if ingested or cause skin irritation upon contact. Croton tiglium, for example, yields croton oil from its seeds, a potent irritant historically used as a purgative and in pharmacology. Due to such properties, handling crotons with care is advised, especially around sap and seeds.

Cultivation notes vary by species, but crotons generally prefer warm, bright conditions with high humidity and well-drained soil. They are not frost-tolerant and may be grown outdoors as shrubs or small trees in tropical climates or as indoor ornamental plants in temperate regions. Pruning is commonly employed to control size and shape, and the variegated cultivars are especially prized for decorative foliage.