Texas Goatweed Croton capitatus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Croton capitatus var. genuinus
- Croton subtomentosis
- Heptallon capitatum
- Heptallon graveolens
- Oxydectes capitata
- Phonetic Spelling
- KROH-ton kap-ih-TAY-tus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Hogwort is a warm-season, annual, broadleaf weed in the spurge family (Euphrobiaceae) with erect, stout, usually single-branched stems covered with star-shaped white or rusty brown, woolly hairs. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 6 inches wide with grayish-green, fuzzy leaves and small, inconspicuous white male and female flowers. This plant is native to the central and eastern United States and is rare in North Carolina, but may be under-reported. It is weedy in disturbed areas such as fields, pastures, roadsides, and prairies.
Prefers full sun and well-drained to dry loam, sand, or rock soils. Propagated by seeds. Hogwort is a host plant for two types of butterflies. Its seeds provide food for ground-feeding birds, such as doves, wild turkey, and quail.
The male and female flowers are not showy and appear on the same spike-like raceme, blooming from July to September. The male flowers are at the top of the raceme and have five petals, five sepals, and 10 to 14 stamens. The female flowers are the base of the raceme and are apetalous with 5 to 10 sepals and a single ovary. All parts of this plant have dense, short, stellate hairs.
Hogwort is a warm-season annual weed that may volunteer in the garden or flower beds, but it is usually not aggressive.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Hogwort is toxic if ingested by livestock, humans, or pets. Protective gloves and clothing are recommended when handling this plant due to skin irritation and eye irritation.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Croton
- Species:
- capitatus
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: AL, AR, DE, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, and WV. Introduced: New South Wales and Ontario
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds are important dove, wild turkey and quail food. Attracts butterflies and is larva host to Gray Hairstreaks and Goatweed Leafwing
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Toxic if ingested by livestock, humans, horses, and pets. The plant needs to be destroyed in areas where animals may graze.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are hairy spherical capsules. Each capsule measures about ΒΌ inch wide and splits open to release 3 round or oblong seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers form dense clusters on spike-like racemes at the stem tips. There are male and female flowers on the same stem. The male flowers are situated at the tip of the stem, and the female flowers are toward the base. Five tiny white petals and 10 to 14 stamens form the male flower. The female flower has no petals, 5 to 10 sepals, and a single ovary. Blooms from July to September.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are grayish-green, fuzzy, simple with wavy margins. They are oval to lance-shaped, measuring 1 to 4 inches long and 1/4 to 3/4 inches wide. The base is rounded, and the apex is blunt. The underside of the leaf appears paler, but both sides of the leaf are covered with dense stellate hairs. Crushed leaves are aromatic.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are stout, erect, branched, and covered with light brown, woolly hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES ARE EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Vomiting, diarrhea, colic, nervousness, and skin irritation with blisters. Fatal poisoning is rare.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Croton oil
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
