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Fabre, Carl

Croton heptalon

Croton heptalon (Kuntze) B.W. van Ee & P.E. Berry

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

Synonym(s): Croton capitatus var. lindheimeri

USDA Symbol: CRHE7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This variety is named after Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801-1879) who is often called the Father of Texas Botany because of his work as the first permanent-resident plant collector in Texas. Lindheimer immigrated to the United States in 1834 as a political refugee. He spent from 1843-1852 collecting specimens in Texas. He settled in New Braunfels, Texas in 1844, and was granted land on the banks of the Comal River, where he continued his plant collecting and attempted to establish a botanical garden. He shared his findings with many others who shared his interest in botany, including Ferdinand von Roemer and Adolph Scheele. Lindheimer is credited with the discovery of several hundred plant species. His name is used to designate forty-eight species and subspecies of plants. He is buried in New Braunfels. His house, on Comal Street in New Braunfels, is now a museum.

From the Image Gallery

23 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Dec

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IN , KS , KY , LA , MO , MS , OK , TN , TX
Native Habitat: Partial to open praries with sandy, dry soil throughout nc Texas

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Conditions Comments: This is an excellent example of true Texas wild flowers. This plant thrives in open praries, on raodsides, and uses very little water. This plant is abundant throughout the blooming period. Can be poisonous to cattle.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Seeds are important dove and quail food.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Larval Host: Anaea andria, Goatweed Leafwing
Deer Resistant: High

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Croton heptalon in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Croton heptalon in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Croton heptalon

Metadata

Record Modified: 2025-07-09
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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