Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
12003
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Green, Olive
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, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
Egg-shaped
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
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Cold climate
Drought, Salt
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
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Less Watering
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Less fertilizing
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Whole plant
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CODIAEUM variegatum
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Rushfoil, Croton
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
क्रोटोन प्लांट
Lignum Vitae
In German
Kroton
Lignum Vitae
In French
Croton
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Croton Planta
Palo santo
In Greek
Κρότωνα φυτών
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
cróton
pau-santo
In Polish
Kroto roślin
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Planta Croton
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Sapindales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Croton
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Crotoneae
-
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
-
Number of Species
653
1
27800
👆🏻