Temperature
60–85°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum
Croton wants direct light and water every 6 to 11 days, once the top inch is dry. Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
Light
Direct
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
A south or west window within two feet of the glass. The colour is made by light; in shade a croton turns plain green and stays that way.
Water
Every 6–11 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the top inch is dry, not on a schedule.
Humidity
45% and up
Wants 60%. Struggles in dry winter air.
Difficulty
Moderate
Scores 3 of 5: Scores 3 of 5: it needs more direct light than most homes provide, and it drops every leaf when moved or chilled. Both are recoverable and both alarm people.
Habit
Upright
Grows to 24–72 inches. No support needed.
Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans — poison severity low
Contains diterpene esters in the latex. Reported signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, skin irritation.
If a pet has chewed a leaf, rinse the mouth with water and call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Full detail for cats → Full detail for dogs →
What each authority says
- ASPCA
- No record page found under any name tested.
- NC State Extension
- Poison severity: Low · Diterpene esters · TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Allergic dermatitis with skin rash developing after repeated contact. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea when ingested.
Light
Direct light. A south or west window within two feet of the glass. The colour is made by light; in shade a croton turns plain green and stays that way.
Water
Every 6 to 11 days in a 6-inch pot, when the top inch is dry.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | soak and dry |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the top inch is dry |
Soil and potting
Two parts potting soil, one part perlite.
Repot roughly every 2 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Leaf drop this week
- Brown crispy edges monitor
- Yellow leaves this week
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-12.
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Spider mites act today
- Mealybugs this week
- Scale insects this week
Propagation
Stem cutting in water or soil. Roots in 21 to 42 days.
A cutting without a node will not root. It may stay green in water for months and never produce a single root, because it has no growth point.
| Preferred method | stem cutting |
|---|---|
| Medium | water, soil |
| Time to root | 21–42 days |
| Node required | Yes |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Codiaeum variegatum Checked 2026-09-12.
- Wikidata entity Q1345646 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Codiaeum variegatum Accepted name; family Euphorbiaceae. Checked 2026-09-12.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Codiaeum variegatum Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-12.
- Photograph: Louise Wolff --darina 23:22, 6 May 2005 (UTC), Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 3.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02