Codiaeum variegatum ‘Congo’
COMMON NAMES
Congo Croton
Codiaeum (co-dye-EE-um) – Greek for head, referring to the use of croton leaves for wreathes
variegatum (vare-ee-a-GAY-tum) – variegated, referring to the mottled leaves
‘Congo’ – cultivar name
GROUP
Dicot
FAMILY
Euphorbiaceae
ORIGIN
Species – southeast Asia, Indonesia, and nearby islands
DESCRIPTION
Congo Croton is an evergreen shrub that is dense and compact when young. It can become more rounded and leggy when larger. With a slow growth rate, this cultivar averages 5 to 6 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide.
The highly variable leaf colors are the strong point of the croton. This cultivar shows red, orange, yellow, burgundy, and green. The veins are often prominent in reds, oranges, or yellows. Leaves are alternate to spiral in arrangement, large, and elliptical to oval in shape. As with many plants in the Euphorbia family, crotons have a very milky sap.
Flowers are inconspicuous, small, yellow to white in color, and star-shaped. They are borne on racemes from the axils. Summer is the usual bloom time.
Fruit of the croton are brown, round capsules.
HARDINESS
Hardy in USDA Zones 9b to 11, the many cultivars of croton are somewhat variable in cold tolerance. The cold tolerance of ‘Congo’ is not yet documented. A lot depends on the age of the plant and its microenvironment. As a tropical plant, crotons have very good heat tolerance.
LIGHT
In general, crotons will grow in sun or shade. Brighter colors tend to come with more light and slightly cooler temperatures; colors tend to wash out and fade in full sun with hot temperatures. Brighter light also brings smaller leaves with shade bringing larger leaves.
SALT
Slight to Moderate Salt Spray Tolerance – it will tolerate some spray, but it is best to have more protection such as a fence or building as an additional barrier behind the first row of plantings or the first dunes.
SOIL
It prefers a rich, moist soil in the pH range of 6.0 to 6.5, but it will grow on a wide variety of other well-drained soils.
WATERING
Once established, crotons have fair drought tolerance, but they will be much healthier with irrigation in dry spells. Plants grown in shade tend to need less water.
PROPAGATION
Softwood tip cuttings approximately 3 to 6 inches long with 3 to 5 leaves work well. The ideal propagation temperature is 70 to 78 degrees F. The average rooting time under mist and with a rooting hormone is 1 to 2 months. Air layering is alternate method of propagation.
PRUNING
Most crotons can get leggy if not pruned to encourage branching. Pruning should be done selectively by hand. Power shearing does not work well with the form and size of the leaves.
FERTILIZING
It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work. If your soil is fairly high in phosphorus, then a 3-1-2 ratio analysis will work also.
PESTS
Darkwinged Fungus Gnats - University of Florida
Whiteflies - University of California
Citrus Mealybug - University of Florida
Croton Scale - University of Florida
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug - University of Florida
Saddleback Caterpillar - University of Florida
False Spider Mite - University of Florida
Cuban Laurel Thrips - University of Florida
Greenhouse Thrips - University of Florida
DISEASES
Crown Gall - Missouri Botanical Gardens
Xanthomonas Leaf Spot - University of Illinois
Anthracnose - University of California
Botrytis Blight - Missouri Botanical Gardens
Fusarium Wilt and Rot - Missouri Botanical Gardens
Phytophthora Root Rot - North Carolina State University
Pythium Root Rot - Purdue University
DEER
Resistant
There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.
OTHER
Croton leaves also work well in floral arrangements. Just be a little careful of sap from fresh cut material.
USES
Color accent, foundation plant, specimen plant, containers, tropical effect, mass plantings, borders, hedge
California Poison Control gives Codiaeum spp. a listing of:
1 - Dermal Skin - contact with these plants can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching, and rash to painful blisters like skin burns.
North Carolina State University lists as:
Poison Part:All parts
Poison Delivery Mode:Ingestion, dermatitis from milky sap
Symptoms:Allergic dermatitis with skin rash developing after repeated contact. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea when ingested
Toxic Principle:Diterpene esters
Severity:TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
University of California lists as:
Minor Toxicity: Ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea. If ingested, call the Poison Control Center or your doctor.
Dermatitis: The juice, sap, or thorns of these plants may cause a skin rash or irritation. Wash the affected area of skin with soap and water as soon as possible after contact. The rashes may be very serious and painful. Call the Poison Control Center or your doctor if symptoms appear following contact with the plants.
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