South Florida Palm Society Garden Tour

[Moose]

Mike Harris and Jeff Searle both have two of the nicest private palm collections in South Florida. While attending the tour, I was amazed seeing all the Palm accent plants. Lots of wonderful colors. As Randy (Palmisland) states, they are "palm jewelry ... "

Starting of with The Mike Harris Collection.

Corot - a not very often encountered cultivar. A beautiful variety developed by Mr. Aubrey Christian of Miami around the 1920's -1930's

[Moose]

Here is one whose ID is tagged as Dreer Hybrid.

Mr. Henry A. Dreer of Philadelphia may have offered the first crotons for sale in the US. The first evidence was from his catalog dated 1871. By 1877 - his catalog offered eight varieties. Dreer imported his crotons almost exclusively from Belgium. Then he began to develope and introduce his own plants. By 1901, The Dreer Company of Philadelphia was the dominate US croton nursery. These were very popular green house plants during this era.

[Moose]

Weismanni - a very old cultivar. First advertised in Phoenix's Plant Catalog as "PLANT NOVELTIES". This Bloomington, Illinois nursery began selling crotons in 1875. Weismanni being one of the five offerings. This cultivar all but disappeared from cultivation by 1960 according to Dr. B. Frank Brown. Thanks to the efforts of die hard collectors and The Croton Society, this cultivar has been saved from extinction.

[Moose]

Tortoise Shell - reportedly a sport from the cultivar Bravo. Mike's plant is exceptional. Largest leaves I have ever seen on this particular croton.

[Neil C]

Not really into crotons but that tortoise shell is very nice. Thanks for posting.

Regards Neil

[Moose]

The rather slow but beautiful cultivar, Sunrise found in the Mike Harris garden.

[Moose]

The not often encountered and uncommon cultivar, Prince of Orange. Mike's plant is exhibiting some great orange coloration.

[Moose]

Possibly a dubious ID? A wonderfully grown with outstanding colors, Ann Rutherford.

[Moose]

Mike's very striking Cornbread.

[Moose]

Mrs. Snyder Disraeli - an old cultivar still very popular with croton lovers.

[Moose]

Here is Mike's Monarch. This croton has some of the largest leaves of all the cultivars. It is uncommon to rare and is much sought after by collectors.

[palmislandRandy]

Thanks Ron, keep the photos coming.

[Moose]

Coppinger's Hybrid - aka One in the Head

[Jonas]

This is absolutly fantastic...! The weismanni looks very much like "sunray" or is it "sunbeam"i dont remember.. Long slender leaves with yellow veins. I will try to take some Photos from my garden, maybe you Can id them..

Jonas

Rurrenabaque

Bolivia

[palmislandRandy]

Jonas, Try the Croton Society website, a sub forum at Palmpedia. That's where the crotonheads are & you'll get the all answers you want! Weismanii has a "thumb" like bump on the leaves.

Randy

[Moose]

Another beauty found in the Mike Harris garden, Madame Butterfly.

[Moose]

Another very interesting cultivar, Black Thai. The origin of this plant is uncertain or its creator's name. It definitely looks like it has a Thai croton hybrid in its parentage. Thai crotons have been proven to be difficult to grow in Florida. This one does fine with our soils and climate. Jeff Searle is the source for this unusual croton in South Florida. I need one of these!

[Moose]

Another very uncommon to rare cultivar, Carmen Christian. This croton was developed by the Miami hybridist Aubrey Christian in the 1920's or 30's. It is named for his daughter. Thanks to the croton society and its members - this cultivar was saved and getting reestablished in Florida gardens.

[Moose]

Frank Brown called this a "recent introduction" in his publication Florida's Beautiful Crotons in 1960. A well grown plant is something to behold. The origin of this cultivar is uncertain. General MacArthur

[Moose]

An uncommon and nicely grown Glen Roof found in the Mike Harris' garden

[Moose]

This is the best looking "Grandma" I've ever seen. Mike's plant is spectacular in color!

[Moose]

This croton is simply amazing. These pictures do not do it justice. A Thai hybrid, Green Dragon. I was at the auction when Mike Harris acquired this croton. He bit the bullet and took the chance of putting it in the ground. It has done very well and has grown considerably since last seeing it!

WOW !!!

This is the last of the crotons from the Mike Harris garden found during the South Florida Palm Society Tour.

[Moose]

The next stop on the South Florida Palm Society Garden Tour was the Jeff and Andrea Searle Garden. Just like Mike Harris, Jeff and Andrea have one of the premiere private palm collections in South Florida. Since Ken Johnson was focusing on taking pictures of the palms, I focused on the crotons of which Jeff (same as Mike) uses as accent plants that add color and helps make the palms stand out. Randy (fm Palmisland) refers to crotons as palm jewlery.

This croton, Doris, is a creation of Chris Mayhew, the nephew of the famous Miami Croton Breeder Henry Coppinger. Chris named the croton after his girlfriend. There are not many crotons that show the brilliant orange coloration as the Doris.

[Moose]

Its a NOID growing in the Seale garden!

[Moose]

The Godfather of Crotons, one of Dr. Frank Brown's favorites - Polychrome.

[Moose]

A very old cultivar that is rarely encountered, Victor Limone

[Moose]

Better watch out, the Rapture is coming

[Moose]

Its always difficult to find a good Bimbo. This is a good Bimbo.

[Moose]

This is an unknown cultivar that was acquired from the Richard Krukonis collection in North Miami. Its very pretty and extremely rare.

[Moose]

Another beautiful cultivar that is unnnamed.

[Moose]

Please pass me the Catchup

[Moose]

This cultivar has a tempoarily name "Cleo" . This cultivar was given to Jeff Searle from Cleo Millare many years ago. It has made it into a few collectors gardens. There was one available at an auction yesterday that fetched a handsome price. Cleo Millare is a long time associate of "The Godfather" Dr. B. Frank Brown. His travels with Dr. Brown around the world has brought many new varieties back to Florida. Cleo operates his own nursery Valkaria, FL just a few miles from Dr. Brown's garden.

[Moose]

Here is another unknown (yet to be named) beautiful cultivar found in the Searle garden. I don't recall what Jeff told me about the origin of this cultivar. I am certain it may have came from an oldtimer's collection that is awaiting to get identified.

[Moose]

Here is another unknown (yet to be named) beautiful cultivar found in the Searle garden. I don't recall what Jeff told me about the origin of this cultivar. I am certain it may have came from an oldtimer's collection that is awaiting to get identified.

Ooops - sorryfor the double post of this croton. Forgot to delete from my picture folder.

[Mandrew968]

Except for the Thai forms, they all look alike...

[BS Man about Palms]

Funny, Jeff says the same thing about all the big Dypsis too