Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Vegetable
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
North America, Mexico, Central America
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
-
Number of Varieties
120080
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
Loamy soils, Moist Soils, Subtropical climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-155-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
A1, A2, 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
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Yellow, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Green, Dark 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
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
Long Elliptic
Palmate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Cold climate
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Apply 12-12-12 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Army-worms, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Fusarium leaf spot, Red spider mite
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
Bees, Flies, Flying insects
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm, Miscarriage
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
Acne, For treating wrinkles, Improve hair condition, Nourishes scalp, Removes dandruff
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Food for animals, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Anti-fungal, Detoxification, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Fruits
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Cosmetics, Repellent, Use in Chinese herbology
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Vine
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
CUCURBITA pepo 'Bicolor Pear'
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
Bicolor Pear Gourd, Ornamental Gourd
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
करेला
In German
Kroton
Bittermelone
In French
Croton
Momordica charantia
In Spanish
Croton Planta
Momordica charantia
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
-
In Portuguese
cróton
Momordica
In Polish
Kroto roślin
Przepękla ogórkowata
In Latin
Planta Croton
-
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Spermatophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Violales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Croton
Momordica
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Crotoneae
-
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
6580
1
27800
👆🏻