Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Shrubs ), 0 by LindaTX8

LindaTX8 wrote:
Bush Croton, Croton fruticulosus, is a small native deciduous shrub growing up to 3 feet tall. Found growing in the Hill Country areas to West Texas and a few other western states. Leaves are light to medium green, aromatic if crushed, slightly fuzzy. The blooms occur from spring to fall, not very showy, whitish to cream-colored or very pale yellow. The seed capsule is 3-lobed, as many of the Euphorbiaceae family tend to be. I have sometimes seen fall color of very appealing oranges and yellows. The native crotons are not well known and seldom grown in home landscapes. But I have often admired this plant and think it is worthy of growing in yards. It is a host plant for butterflies. I acquired mine last month from a sale by the S. A. chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Lucky me! And already I have discovered caterpillars which appear to be some kind of leafwing, probably either the Goatweed or Tropical Leafwing. Hopefully I'll know which when they get bigger, as they are now pretty small.