Croton punctatus Jacq.

Beach Tea; Silverleaf Croton; Gulf Croton

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Beach Tea is a native evergreen shrub in the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It is native to the coastal counties where it grows on dunes and beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Beach Tea is a low mounding shrub reaching heights of 3 feet. The stems are trichotomously (branching into 3 segments) branched with silvery stellate pubescence. Leaves are petiolate, alternate, elliptic to orbicular in outline, with entire margins. The surface of the leaf is pubescent with stellate trichomes and scales. Fragrant flowers are produced in racemes from the axils of the leaves. The racemes are unisexual or bisexual. Each raceme has 3-7 staminate flowers and 0-3 pistillate flowers. The staminate flowers have sepals that are pubescent with stellate trichomes and scales, no petals, and 10-13 stamens. The pistillate flowers have sepals that are pubescent with stellate trichomes and scales, no petals, and a 3-locular ovary. The fruit is a 3-angled capsule with 3 seed (1 in each segment). Beach Tea is sometimes available from coastal nurseries. It can also be grown from seed or cuttings. Once established it is resistant to bright sunlight, strong winds, sand scouring, high temperatures, low nutrient levels, and salt spray.—A. Diamond

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Native

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