Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Shrub
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Types
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Number of Varieties
11200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
shrublands, tropical grasslands
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99999-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.80 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Light Green, Tan
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
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
Green, Light Green
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lanceolate
Long Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, 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, Early Fall, Fall
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Cold climate
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Pest Free
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flies
Butterflies, Insects
Allergy
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
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
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Seeds, Whole plant
Other Uses
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
CODIAEUM variegatum
Common Name
Mexican Tea
Rushfoil, Croton
In Hindi
Dysphania ambrosioides
क्रोटोन प्लांट
In German
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
Kroton
In French
Épazote
Croton
In Spanish
Dysphania ambrosioides
Croton Planta
In Greek
Μεξικού τσάι
Κρότωνα φυτών
In Portuguese
Dysphania ambrosioides
cróton
In Polish
Komosa piżmowa
Kroto roślin
In Latin
Dysphania ambrosioides
Planta Croton
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Dysphania
Croton
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Dysphanieae
Crotoneae
Subfamily
Chenopodioideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
3065
1
27800
👆🏻