Croton is a tropical plant with colorful variegated foliage and nearly limitless leaf forms with hundreds of croton plant varieties. Croton plants grow best outdoors in warm, humid climates with full to dappled light in soil on the acidic side and with temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Outdoor croton plants can reach around 8 feet tall but houseplants are much smaller. However, be careful about where you plant as crotons are toxic to humans and animals.