| COMMON NAME Dreadlock Croton |
| BOTANICAL NAME Codiaeum ‘Dreadlock’ |
| HEIGHT 6′ |
| WIDTH 3′ |
| MONOECIOUS |
| EVERGREEN |
| LIFESPAN 25 years |
| PERENNIAL |
| COLD TOLERANCE 33° F |
| SOIL TYPE Well drained |
| WATER REQUIREMENTS Water after planting in ground, and water every day for 2 weeks. Week 3 and week 4, water deeply twice a week. From week 5 forward water deeply at least once a week until it has been 3 months. From then on, make sure your croton is receiving a deep watering at least once or twice per month. Shouldn’t need to be watered thereafter, however it has best results with regular irrigation. Supplement with water during droughts and the hot, dry months to keep your plant lush and thriving. Reduce watering in the Winter when growth slows. |
| DROUGHT TOLERANCE High |
| SALT TOLERANCE Medium |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENTS Full sun to part shade |
| FERTILIZING Sparingly use a general purpose 10-10-10 once every month from Spring to Summer for faster growth. Alternatively, use a slow-release fertilizer 3 times a year. Halt fertilizing from the Fall to Winter, then begin again in the Spring. Do not allow fertilizer to clump, be sure to disperse evenly. Clumped fertilizer can potentially burn roots, potentially harming or killing a plant. Avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves, flowers, and stems. |
| FLOWER Male flowers develop on long inflorescences and have many stamens with starburst-like effect. Female flowers develop on stouter inflorescences, with 3 stigmas and no petals. |
| MONTH OF COLOR All year |
| FRUIT Fertilized female flowers develop in to small, round fruits. Inedible. |
| ALLERGENS, TOXICITY AND ANIMALS Toxic to animals. (Dogs, cats, horses, humans.) |
| COMMENTS Unusual narrow leaf with a twist. Deer eat this plant. Xeriscaping compatible. |
| PRICE 10 gallon $75, 7 gallon $35, 3 gallon $13 |