Woolly Croton Croton capitatus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KROH-ton kap-ih-TAY-tus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Hogwort is an annual herb in the spurge family with erect, branched stems covered with white or rusty brown, woolly hairs. It is native to central and eastern USA and rare in NC. It is weedy in disturbed areas as fields, pastures, roadsides and prairies. In pastures. it presents a problem as it is poisonous to cattle and horses if mixed in with hay.
It is a host plant for 2 butterflies and the seeds provide food to ground-feeding birds like doves and quail. The flowers are not showy and the leaves are wooly looking due to dense hairs. It will grow 1-3 feet tall and is often found growing in sandy or rocky soils in full sun.
- 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
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
- 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
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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:
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are hairy spherical capsules about ¼ inch wide and split open to release 3 round or oblong seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are densely clustered at the stem tips, with male flowers toward the tip, and female flowers below. Male flowers have 5 tiny white petals and 10–14 anthers. Female flowers have 6–9 calyx lobes and lack petals.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green alternate, simple, fuzzy leaves are oval to lance-shaped and margins are sometimes wavy. 1 to 4 inches long, 1/4 to 3/4 inch wide, base rounded and tip blunt.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Erect, branched stems 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 Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Vomiting, diarrhea, nervousness; skin irritation with blisters.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Croton oil
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
