Croton Species, Joseph's Coat, Variegated Croton

Codiaeum variegatum

Family
Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Codiaeum (koh-dih-EE-um)
Species
variegatum (var-ee-GAY-tum)
Synonym
Codiaeum variegatum var. genuinum
Croton variegatus
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Good Fall Color
Smooth
Velvet/Fuzzy
Height
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Gold (yellow-orange)
Bloom Time
Blooms repeatedly
Other Details
Category
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Chartreuse/Yellow
Burgundy/Maroon
Orange/Apricot
Where to Grow
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
By air layering
By tip layering
By stooling or mound layering
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Budapest, Budapest

Antelope, California

Brentwood, California

Carlsbad, California

Folsom, California

Indio, California

Irvine, California

Merced, California

Stockton, California

Bartow, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Boynton Beach, Florida(2 reports)

Brandon, Florida

Brooksville, Florida

Cape Coral, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Melbourne Beach, Florida

Miami, Florida

Ocoee, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Parrish, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida

Rockledge, Florida

Ruskin, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Seminole, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Titusville, Florida

Vero Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Honomu, Hawaii

KAILUA KONA, Hawaii

Kula, Hawaii

Belvidere, Illinois

Crofton, Kentucky

Fort George G Meade, Maryland

Rochester, New York

Georgetown, South Carolina

Broaddus, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Elgin, Texas

La Vernia, Texas

League City, Texas

Port Lavaca, Texas

Spring, Texas

show all

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Gardener's Notes:

10
positives
3
neutrals
1
negative
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C
ROSLINDALE, MA | March 2016 | negative

As a houseplant, I've never had any long-term success with this shrub. It drops leaves faster than it produces them, till tufts of leaves...Read More

A
(Zone 9b) | June 2014 | positive

I bought this plant as a small 4" cutting with a few leaves for 99p at a local garden centre. For a few years it threw leaves out in shor...Read More

B
Hayward, CA | January 2014 | positive

I actually saw living,doing well Croton's outdoors in Hayward in the SF bay area. They had to have grown at least one full summer outdoor...Read More

D
D
Strawberry Plains, TN | December 2009 | neutral

hi I'm new to the site and I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask questions. I joined because I am a new home owner and inheritan...Read More

A
A
Detroit, MI | June 2009 | neutral

Nice root system, so keep soil moist and don't forget to mist!

H
Folsom, CA | April 2009 | positive

We grow ours indoors because of extremes in summer/winter. A year ago, the new leaves grew long, thin, and very twisted (corkscrew-like)....Read More

G
Austin, TX | November 2008 | positive

I have this as an indoor plant in Rochester, NY. I keep it in the light of the window, and water fairly frequently. It has been doing won...Read More

T
Waterbury, CT (Zone 5b) | November 2007 | positive

I have this plant indoors, and just bought it, does it need to stay indoors for my zone? (6b), most seem to have theirs outdoors.

N
N
(Zone 10a) | October 2006 | positive

Varieties of differing growth habit crotons grouped together under a tree helps them flourish in New Delhi (zone 10a). It seems that the ...Read More

V
V
Melbourne Beach, FL (Zone 10a) | June 2006 | positive

These grow all over the place here in 9b. There are a huge variety of types that vary in leaf shape and color. Varigated colors range fr...Read More

F
Honomu, HI (Zone 11) | July 2004 | positive

My son loves crotons and is accumulating a collection of different varieties. When a plant gets too large, we cut limbs off, use in flow...Read More

K
K
Athens, TN (Zone 7a) | September 2003 | positive

These are true no to extremely low maintenance plants for me. I know once I put one in my yard I never have to worry about it kicking the...Read More

B
Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9b) | August 2003 | positive

Thanks to all of you who shared your pix of these plants. I have several lovely crotons but none as grand as some of these pix.
A...Read More

T
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ (Zone 7a) | August 2001 | neutral

Likes to be misted. Can get spider mites very easily. Spider mites don't care for a moist enviornment, so when ever you have the chance s...Read More

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