croton

American  

[kroht-n] / ˈkroʊt n /

noun

1. any of numerous chiefly tropical plants constituting the genus Croton, of the spurge family, several species of which, as C. tiglium, have important medicinal properties.

2. (among florists) any plant of the related genus Codiaeum (orPhyllaurea ) cultivated for its ornamental foliage.

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croton British  

/ ˈkrəʊtən /

noun

1. any shrub or tree of the chiefly tropical euphorbiaceous genus Croton, esp C. tiglium, the seeds of which yield croton oil

2. any of various tropical plants of the related genus Codiaeum, esp C. variegatum pictum, a house plant with variegated foliage

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Etymology

Origin of croton

1745–55; < New Latin < Greek krotṓn a tick, also the castor-oil plant, which has berries likened to ticks

Example Sentences

The spiraling hedges are planted with gold dust croton, a leafy green plant dotted with yellow.

From Los Angeles Times

The hardiest of these plants, she said, are the palms, crotons, philodendrons and alocasias.

From New York Times

Another popular fall plant, according to Carlson, is the variegated croton.

From Seattle Times

After I potted my croton and calathea — and a handful of other botanical beauties — I expected instant relaxation.

From Seattle Times

This, in turn, is linked to how people house such things as dracaenas, crotons, sansevierias, spider plants and the rest.

From Washington Post