Codiaeum variegatum, commonly known as Croton, is a tropical evergreen shrub prized for its bold, multicolored foliage. It typically grows 3-12 feet (1-4 m) tall, depending on variety and pruning. 

Growth Form 

• Upright, branching habit 

• Woody stems 

• Dense foliage 

• Often shaped into hedges or decorative garden accents 

Stems 

• Smooth and green when young 

• Become woody with age 

• Contain milky sap typical of the Euphorbiaceae family 

Leaves 

• Highly variable in shape and size 

• May be broad, narrow, twisted, or lobed 4-12 inches long 

• Thick and leathery 

• Brilliant combinations of green, yellow, red, orange, and purple 

• Prominent colored veins Leaf coloration intensifies in full sunlight. 

Flowers 

• Small and inconspicuous 

• Creamy white 

• Produced in slender, drooping clusters 

• Not the primary ornamental feature 

Fruit 

• Small triangular capsule