Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Dragon Fruit Cactus
Number of Varieties
120015
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
tropical environments, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red
Red, Salmon
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
Long Elliptic
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
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
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Cold climate
Deer resistant, Drought, Heat And Humidity, Salt, Shade areas, Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Semi-hardwood cuttings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
Water slowly, and allow to dry completely between soakings
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
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
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Dispose of diseased portions, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
15-30-15 liquid fertilizer, Fertilzer with low nitrogen content
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacterial Stem Rot, Birds, Brown Rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Deer resistant, Drought, Heat And Humidity, Salt, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
pollinators
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
Anti-ageing, Good for skin, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Food for animals
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, Antitumor, Diabetes, Healing, Nutritive, Skin wounds
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Flowers, Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Cosmetics, Food for animals, Used as a nutritious food item, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
Hylocereus undatus
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
Pitahaya, Dragon Fruit
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
hylocereus
In German
Kroton
hylocereus
In French
Croton
hylocereus
In Spanish
Croton Planta
hylocereus
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
hylocereus
In Portuguese
cróton
hylocereus
In Polish
Kroto roślin
Hylocereus
In Latin
Planta Croton
Hylocereus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Croton
Hylocereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Crotoneae
Hylocereeae
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
6512
1
27800
👆🏻