Croton punctatus | Gulf Croton | Beach Tea | Rare Florida Native Succulent Euphorbia

CURBSIDE PICKUP AVAILABLE! 

Please select “Local Pickup” at checkout. We will notify you when it’s ready to be picked up, and coordinate with you from there. Make sure to put your phone number in when you check out!

This member of the euphorbiaceae is very obscure. I'm not sure why - it has petite, coppertone sun-kissed succulent leaves, tiny white flower clusters, grows in horrendous soil and full, brutal sun, and is semi salt tolerant. Forms a nice mini shrub-mat. Needs patience to establish but once it gets going - it rolls! 

1 gallon pots, shipped bare root and wrapped carefully if shipping is selected. 

Beach-tea, Gulf croton
Croton punctatus
Euphorbiaceae

Landscape Uses: Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub in coastal uplands.
Ecological Restoration Notes:

A somewhat rare element of beach dunes and coastal strand.
Description:
Small, dense shrubby herb. Leaves greenish with a silvery cast, to 2 inches long.
Height:
Typically 1-3 feet in height. As broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate to slow.
Range:
Southern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties; Cuba, Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
Habitats:
Open coastal uplands.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous. Fragrant. Unisexual, with male flowers above and female below, clustered toward the ends of the stems.
Flowering Season:
All year.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous capsule.