Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Central America, Mexico
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Slicing, Pickling and burpless
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
Floodplains, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
7-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
White, Yellow
Yellow, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
-
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Cold climate
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Prune after flowering, Remove shoots
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
Compost, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, fungus, Fusarium wilt, Leaf spot, Striped cucumber beetles
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Cold climate
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
Ants, Birds, Flying insects, Insects, Rats, Squirrels
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
Throat itching, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Food for animals, Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Antioxidants, Combats Stress, Fiber, Improve heart health, Indigestion, Inflammation, Rich in Iron
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
MELOTHRIA scabra
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
Mexican Sour Gherkins, cucamelon
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
Mousemelon
In German
Kroton
Maus Melone
In French
Croton
Mousemelon
In Spanish
Croton Planta
Mousemelon
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
πεπόνι ποντίκι
In Portuguese
cróton
melão rato
In Polish
Kroto roślin
mysz melona
In Latin
Planta Croton
mouse melon
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Cucurbitales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Crotoneae
Melothrieae
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Season and Care of Croton and Mouse Melon
Season and care of Croton and Mouse Melon is important to know. While considering everything about Croton and Mouse Melon Care, growing season is an essential factor. Croton season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Mouse Melon season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Croton is Loam, Sand and for Mouse Melon is Loam while the PH of soil for Croton is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Mouse Melon is Neutral.
Croton and Mouse Melon Physical Information
Croton and Mouse Melon physical information is very important for comparison. Croton height is 90.00 cm and width 30.00 cm whereas Mouse Melon height is 15.20 cm and width 180.00 cm. The color specification of Croton and Mouse Melon are as follows:
Croton flower color: White and Yellow
Croton leaf color: White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green and Gold
Mouse Melon flower color: Yellow and Gold
- Mouse Melon leaf color: Light Green
Care of Croton and Mouse Melon
Care of Croton and Mouse Melon include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Croton pruning is done Prune in spring and Remove branches that rub together and Mouse Melon pruning is done Prune after flowering and Remove shoots. In summer Croton needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Less Watering. Whereas, in summer Mouse Melon needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.