Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Vegetable
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
Number of Varieties
120010
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
gardens
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2, 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 cm2.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm20.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow
White, Pink, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Purple, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Green, Light 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
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
Round
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
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, Pot
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 watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
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
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects, Mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
-
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Culinary use, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
भारतीय पालक
In German
Kroton
Indian Spinat
In French
Croton
épinards indienne
In Spanish
Croton Planta
espinaca india
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
cróton
espinafre indiano
In Polish
Kroto roślin
Indyjski szpinak
In Latin
Planta Croton
Spinach Indian
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Malpighiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Basellaceae
Genus
Croton
Basella
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Crotoneae
-
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
-
Number of Species
655
1
27800
👆🏻