Croton cortesianus aka Cortez's Croton

Croton cortesianus is a woody shrub or small tree. It belongs to the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Its native range runs south from Texas through Mexico. It then extends into Central America. Records place it in Belize and Guatemala. They also place it in Honduras and Nicaragua. Kew puts it in the subtropical climate zone. The habitat record gives an upper height above sea level of 2,625 feet [800 metres]. It does not name a type of habitat. Thus, its broad range is clearer than its local growing sites.

The plant can reach about 20 feet [6 metres] tall. This is its reported size, not a tested garden range. The sources give no separate height for garden-grown plants. They give no mature spread or rate of growth. Its form ranges from a shrub to a small tree. The account does not describe its bark or how branches grow. It gives no leaf size, shape, or changes through the year. Photo captions show both male and female flowers. They do not say when it blooms or describe its fruit.

Useful Tropical Plants lists it as a wild plant. It states that growers can raise it from seed. It gives no way to sow seed or help it sprout. The evidence does not show its sun or water needs. It gives no soil needs or frost limit for this species. A broad claim about other crotons cannot tell us those needs. The account lists no garden use or role in landscape planting. The sources give no pest or disease records for this species. These gaps limit what gardeners can learn about its care.

People sometimes gather this wild plant for use in traditional medicine. They apply its sap as a caustic for skin disease. Caustic means it can burn or damage tissue. This use does not prove that it is safe or helpful. The source lists no known food uses or other uses. It lists no hazards, but that does not mean eating it is safe. Useful Tropical Plants reports a 2019 IUCN rating of Least Concern. It cites the plant’s broad range and large wild population. The account names no major threats now. Nor does it name any significant threats expected in the future. This account of its status concerns plants in the wild. It does not show how well the plant grows in gardens.