Woolly Croton can grows in sandy prairies, openings and waste places of the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. This upright, multi-branched annual can reach a height of 1 to 3 feet. The grayish-green stems have small hairs and branch at the nodes. The leaves are a narrow lance shape and are 1 to 4 inches long. The small green male flowers are positioned above the female flowers on a stalk. The fruit is a three-seeded capsule. The seeds are eaten by quail, mourning dove, and turkeys. Woolly croton blooms from summer to fall and is a caterpillar food source for Leafwing and Starred Skipper butterflies. |