SafePlants

Texas Croton (Croton texensis)

Texas Croton, also known as Doveweed, is a plant found in the United States, particularly in Texas. It is known for its aromatic smell when the leaves are crushed.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Croton texensis (Klotzsch) Müll. Arg. The original text presents this name in multiple formats.
• Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)
• Common Names: Texas Croton, Doveweed, Skunk Weed, Goatweed

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to a large portion of the southern, Plains, and Midwestern United States.
• Specifically mentioned locations in Texas include: Center, Midland, Smithville, Dickens County, Van Zandt County, Uvalde County.
• Grows on sandy soils on the plains.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Annual plant.
• Varies in height from 1 to 4 feet (12 to 48 inches) depending on moisture availability. Some sources list heights of 8-32 inches.
• Described as a warm-season annual forb that becomes very coarse.
• Male flowers have abundant stellate hairs, also found on the female flowers.

Traditional Uses

• The Zuni people used a decoction of the plant.

Ecological Role

• A good wildlife plant.
• A favorite of doves.
• Attracts tiny pollinators with its tiny flowers.
• Eaten by caterpillars.

Quirky Facts

• There is a town in Texas named Croton.

Related Species

• There are roughly twenty different species of Croton in Texas.
• Mentioned species include Croton alabamensis and Croton capitatus var lindheimeri.
• Distinguished from Croton setigerus, which is not a Texas plant and is found from Arizona and Utah west to the Pacific Coast.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden is referenced as a community for sharing gardening tips and ideas.
• The University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University hold baria that document the distribution of Croton species in Texas.
• Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas is mentioned as a resource.
• Discover Life has a page dedicated to Croton texensis.