Croton, << KROH tuhn, >> is the name of a group of tropical shrubs or small trees. The best-known type is the garden croton, which grows about 3 to 8 feet (0.9 to 2.4 meters) high. Its smooth-edged leaves may be spotted, streaked, or banded with yellow, white, green, and red. Because of these colors, the leaves are often used in wreaths. On some garden crotons no two leaves have the same pattern. The white flowers are small and hardly noticeable. The fruits are round and split into three segments. Garden crotons grow best in good, moist soil. They can be kept indoors in pots. In tropical climates, they are often grown outdoors in lawns and parks.
