Dakota Gardener: Croton, the rainbow plant

I remember my high school horticulture class studying houseplants. My teacher had about 20 different plants for the class to learn about and be able to identify. The first day that the plants were set up, my eyes immediately gravitated toward the "rainbow" plant. I was intrigued with all the colors on a single plant. My teacher held up each plant and wrote each name on the board. Now this colorful plant was no longer the rainbow plant, but a croton.

Crotons (pronounced krow-tn) are popular, simply for their colorful foliage. They are a tropical plant that is native to Asia and are considered an evergreen shrub. What a fun fact! In their native habitat, they can grow up to 10 feet tall and are used in the landscape as hedges or stunning focal points.

The foliage of crotons can vary depending on the variety. Colors can vary, with its green leaves variegated by white, pink, orange, red, yellow or purple, hence my reason to call it the "rainbow" plant! Their leaves can be oval, linear, lobed, or even wavy or twisted.

Like most houseplants, crotons do best in well-drained, moist soil. They will need a spot in the house that receives bright, indirect light. Crotons can be moved outdoors during the summer, making a great accent or pop of color on any porch. They should be placed in an area of partial shade. The coloring of their leaves responds to the amount of light they receive; higher light will give you a more vibrant color of foliage, whereas a lack of light can cause the plant to revert to shades of green. When in too much direct sunlight their foliage turns dull and gray.

Caring for a croton as a houseplant is simple. You will water the croton only when the top inch of the soil dries out. Dropping of their leaves indicates too much or too little water. They have few pest problems; you may see an occasional mealybug, spider mite or scale. Be aware that a croton does have irritating and toxic qualities. If you have any pets that tend to chew on plants this could be a problem. Skin irritation can develop from the plant's sap as well.

Walking through a garden center this summer, I saw the "rainbow" plant and immediately decided it was coming home with me. My daughters were delighted to have such a colorful plant in our living room. They have mentioned to others how mom has a "crouton plant," which is a fun way to start a conversation correcting them that it is a croton, not "crouton!"