Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs, Shrubs
  
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
  
Australia, South America
  
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
  
Adams Elderberry, Black Beauty Elderberry, Black Lace Elderberry, Johns Elderberry, Nova Elderberry
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
  
Farms, Homesteads, Near organic waste disposal
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
  
4-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
8-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Yellow
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Red
  
Purple, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
  
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
  
Leaf Color in Fall
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
  
Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
  
Compound
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Early Spring
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Part sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Slightly Acidic
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Early Spring, Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Cold climate, Not Available
  
Pollution
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Grafting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
Requires regular watering, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Less Watering
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Slightly Acidic
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Part sun
  
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
  
Cut or pinch the stems, No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in winter, Prune ocassionally, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Canker, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Stem spot, Tomato Ringspot Virus
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
  
Birds
  
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
  
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
  
constipation, Fever, Heart problems, High cholestrol, HIV/AIDS, Nerve pain, swine flu
  
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
  
Flowers, Fruits
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
  
Not Available
  
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
  
Sambucus nigra
  
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
  
Elderberry
  
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
  
Elderberry
  
In German
Kroton
  
Holunderbeere
  
In French
Croton
  
Sureau
  
In Spanish
Croton Planta
  
Saúco
  
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
  
Elderberry
  
In Portuguese
cróton
  
Sabugueiro
  
In Polish
Kroto roślin
  
Bez czarny
  
In Latin
Planta Croton
  
Elderberry
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Malpighiales
  
Dipsacales
  
Family
Euphorbiaceae
  
Adoxaceae
  
Genus
Croton
  
Sambucus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Crotoneae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
  
Not Available
  
Importance of Croton and Elderberry
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Croton and Elderberry. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Croton and Elderberry as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Croton is Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain and Upset stomach whereas of Elderberry is constipation, Fever, Heart problems, High cholestrol, HIV/AIDS, Nerve pain and swine flu. Croton has beauty benefits as follows: Improve hair condition and Skin Problems while Elderberry has beauty benefits as follows: Improve hair condition and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Croton vs Elderberry
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Croton vs Elderberry and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Croton are Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash and Vomiting whereas of Elderberry have Diarrhea, Nausea and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Croton has no showy fruits and Elderberry has no showy fruits. Also Croton is not flowering and Elderberry is flowering. You can compare Croton and Elderberry facts and facts of other plants too.