Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Origin
North America, South America, Brazil
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Types
Peanut cactus
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Number of Varieties
1281200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Sandy areas, Semi desert
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-159-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-1
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Rose
White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Green, Orange Red
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
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
Leaf Color in Fall
-
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
-
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Long Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
Cold climate
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, fertilize in summer, Potassium
Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Scale
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Insects
Allergy
Skin cuts
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Burns, Heals minor burns, Heart problems, High blood pressure, Wounds
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Seeds, Whole plant
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
ECHINOPSIS
CODIAEUM variegatum
Common Name
Hedgehog Cactus, Sea urchin cactus
Rushfoil, Croton
In Hindi
हाथी कैक्टस
क्रोटोन प्लांट
In German
Igel Kaktus
Kroton
In French
hérisson cactus
Croton
In Spanish
cactus de erizo
Croton Planta
In Greek
κάκτος σκαντζόχοιρος
Κρότωνα φυτών
In Portuguese
hedgehog cactus
cróton
In Polish
jeż kaktus
Kroto roślin
In Latin
cactus
Planta Croton
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Cactaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Echinopsis
Croton
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Crotoneae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
200065
1
27800
👆🏻