Beach Croton
ExplorePlants
Beach Croton
Croton punctatus
Beach Croton is a cheerful plant that grows along sandy beaches. It has bright green leaves and can produce small, colorful flowers that attract butterflies and bees.
Habitat: Coastal areas
Appearance
The Beach Croton is a low-growing plant with distinct silvery-green leaves, often covered in tiny, star-shaped hairs that give it a frosted look. Its small, yellowish-green flowers are inconspicuous, appearing in slender spikes above the dense foliage. This spreading plant forms attractive mounds along sandy coastlines.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilyEuphorbiaceaeGenusCroton
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's a distant cousin to the brightly colored croton plants often grown in tropical gardens!
Its unique silvery leaves reflect sunlight, keeping the plant cool on hot beaches!
This tough plant can grow even when partly buried by shifting sand, like a buried treasure!
Tiny star-shaped hairs on its leaves make it feel soft, almost fuzzy to the touch!
Special abilities
Ability
Sand Anchor
Beach Croton has strong, deep roots that help it anchor firmly in loose sand, preventing erosion and staying put during coastal storms.
Ability
Salt Shield
Beach Croton has tiny, scale-like hairs on its leaves that reflect sunlight and trap moisture, protecting it from salty sea spray and intense sun.
Ability
Burial Survival
Beach Croton can quickly produce new roots and shoots when partly buried by shifting sands, helping it survive dynamic beach environments.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-100 cm
- Spread
- 50-150 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.2-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Year-round
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
Ello Sphinx Moth
Erinnyis ello
Its caterpillars munch on the leaves.
shelters
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Small lizards hide among its dense branches.
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Worker bees may gather its pollen.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Salt Tolerant
Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always stay on paths and don't pick plants without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Beach Croton?
30-100 cm
How wide does Beach Croton spread?
50-150 cm
How big are the flowers on Beach Croton?
0.2-0.5 cm
When does Beach Croton bloom?
Year-round
Is Beach Croton edible?
No
Is Beach Croton toxic?
Mild
What is Beach Croton's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Beach Croton pollinated?
Wind
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