Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
-
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
5-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Yellow
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Green, Gray 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, Gray 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, Gray 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
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Cold climate
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
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
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
-
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
Skin inflammation
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Flowers
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, 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
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
हीथ
In German
Kroton
Heidekraut
In Spanish
Croton Planta
brezo
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
ερείκη
In Portuguese
cróton
urze
In Polish
Kroto roślin
wrzos
In Latin
Planta Croton
Heather
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Ericales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Ericaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Ericoideae
Importance of Croton and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Croton and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Croton and Heather 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 Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. Croton has beauty benefits as follows: Improve hair condition and Skin Problems while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Improve hair condition and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Croton vs Heather
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 Heather 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 Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Croton has no showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also Croton is not flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare Croton and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.