Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Flowering Plants
  
Shrub
  
Origin
North America
  
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
  
Types
Helianthus annuus, Heliantheae,
  
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dry areas, Open areas, Prairies
  
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-10
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Brown, Yellow
  
White, Yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Black, Chocolate, Ivory
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Green
  
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
  
Leaf Color in Summer
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
  
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval
  
Long Elliptic
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Bright direct sunlight
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Dry, Light, Well drained
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Early Summer, Fall, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Cold climate, Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
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, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Dry, Light, Well drained
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Bright direct sunlight
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune ocassionally, Requires little pruning
  
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria leaf blight, Apical chlorosis, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Botrytis head rot, Charcoal rot, Crown gall, Downy mildew, Erwinia stalk rot, Fusarium stalk rot, Fusarium wilt, head rot, Phialophora yellows, Stem spot
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Butterflies, Insects
  
Allergy
Runny nose, Red eyes, Watery eyes, Sore eyes, Itchy eyes
  
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Pulmonary afflictions
  
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Seeds, Stem
  
Seeds, Whole plant
  
Other Uses
As Fertilizers, Economic Purpose, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for producing cooking oil
  
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Bonsai, Container, Edging, Edible, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Vegetable
  
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Helianths Annuus
  
CODIAEUM variegatum
  
Common Name
Sunflower
  
Rushfoil, Croton
  
In Hindi
Sūrajamukhī
  
क्रोटोन प्लांट
  
In German
Sonnenblume
  
Kroton
  
In French
Tournesol
  
Croton
  
In Spanish
Girasol
  
Croton Planta
  
In Greek
ηλιοτρόπιο
  
Κρότωνα φυτών
  
In Portuguese
Girassol
  
cróton
  
In Polish
słonecznik
  
Kroto roślin
  
In Latin
Helianthus
  
Planta Croton
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Malpighiales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Euphorbiaceae
  
Genus
Heilanthus
  
Croton
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Heliantheae
  
Crotoneae
  
Subfamily
Helianthodeae
  
Crotonoideae