Crotons Crotons Crotons

[spockvr6]

Ive frequently heard the term "AFD".  What does this stand for?

[spockvr6]

(SunnyFl @ Aug. 13 2006,20:39)

QUOTE

Also, I got another "unknown" (4 of them actually) - another with intense yellow color.

The new croton looks exactly like an all-yellow and green version of the Fire (Mammey) Croton.  Any ideas what this one might be?

Sunny-

Here are a couple of photos of the Croton called "Sunny Star".

From the looks of your photo, the leaves on yours appear a bit more curled dont they?

[SubTropicRay]

Larry,

I will look up AFD in my book at home.

Sunny Star is a good grower with little if any trouble with sub 40F temps.

Ray

[Dave Butler]

(spockvr6 @ Aug. 17 2006,11:17)

QUOTE

Ive frequently heard the term "AFD".  What does this stand for?

Azienda Floreale Diem  (A.F.D) Named after a nursery

[Jeff Searle]

(Dave Butler @ Aug. 12 2006,18:58)

QUOTE

Monarch

Hey D B, whats the chance in getting some cuttings from somewhere?

[SunnyFl]

Ray and Larry, thanks for helping me with the IDs.  So my little pinkish guy is an AFD hybrid, numbered something other than 5 or 7, and the little yellow one might be Sunny Star.

I'm not sure about that, as - to my eye - it looks as if the croton in Larry's pic has leaves that end in a point, whereas mine has leaves that are more blunt-tipped.  Also the yellow seems distributed differently.  Or maybe the difference in leaf-ends and color have more to do with age?  Mine is much smaller.

And now I have 2 new ones - an Exquisite and (sigh) another Unknown croton.  Will take pix soon.

[spockvr6]

(SunnyFl @ Aug. 20 2006,07:37)

QUOTE

and the little yellow one might be Sunny Star.

I'm not sure about that, as - to my eye - it looks as if the croton in Larry's pic has leaves that end in a point, whereas mine has leaves that are more blunt-tipped.  Also the yellow seems distributed differently.  Or maybe the difference in leaf-ends and color have more to do with age?  Mine is much smaller.

See my post above.  I dont think yours is Sunny Star.  The leaves look too curly in the pic.

[SubTropicRay]

Sunny,

Unknowns abound in any croton collection.  Many cuttings take a few years to show their "true colors" and identifying them before that is near impossible.

Ray

[Eric in Orlando]

Here are a couple more crotons for someone to help ID please;

CROTON 1

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

CROTON 2

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

[SunnyFl]

Larry, I'm sure you're right.  It's not Sunny Star (I wish it were - I liked the name   ).  For now, I'm calling it "yellow Fire croton" as it looks exactly like a yellow version of Fire (mamey) - if you look at some of the fires, they have little "hairs" growing off the underside of the mid-vein, and my unknown yellow crotons have that as well.

Eric, I couldn't tell from the pics, but your Croton #1 looked a bit like the one I got that was labelled "Fantasy" (a/k/a Karen).  Dunno about the 2nd one though.

Is anyone selling Gloriosa?  Someone posted a pic of it, and it looked like a beauty.

[SubTropicRay]

Sunny,

Are you attending the meeting saturday?

Eric,

The first is AFD#5 otherwise known as "Fantasy".  The second is a bit out of color and hard to ID.  See what I mean about unknowns?

Ray

[SunnyFl]

(Ray @ Tampa,Aug. 21 2006,19:49)

QUOTE

Sunny,

Are you attending the meeting saturday?

Hi Ray,

I wish I could - I'd been looking forward to it.  I just have so much other stuff to attend to.  Are you going?  It sounds very interesting.  And if you know anyone with a Gloriosa.....  

[SubTropicRay]

Sunny,

I will look for one at the meeting

Ray

[Eric in Orlando]

Thanks Ray.

That 2nd one, the leaves are a lighter pink when they first grow and then fade to green then that dark color. It is an older croton. There used to be a small collection of crotons in the old orchid greenhouse that were donated in the late 1970s/early 80s. I grew this one from a cutting from one of those. It is a spindly one, doesn't grow fast or thick. That plant is about 12 y.o. from a cutting and is about 5ft tall.

I will have to get a recent photo of the large 'Purity' plants at my mom's house. They have really colored up since the large tree next door got blown over in Hurricane Charley. They went from moderate shade to full sun. Since they have gotten sun for 2 years now they have gotton lots of white/cream coloring on the foliage. They are also about 10ft tall now, it is a hardy vigorous cultivar. I planted them about 1992 from some cuttings I grew and they have never been damaged by cold.

[SubTropicRay]

Eric,

If it's that old, it may be one of the older varieties described (without photos) in Dr. Brown's first book.

I can't remember if Leu has a greenhouse open to the public.  Does it?  

Ray

[Eric in Orlando]

I've looked thru Dr. Brown's book and the closest one that looked like that is 'Imperialis'

There used to be a small display greenhouse by the Arid Garden with mainly orchids. It was torn down several years ago as the structure was in bad shape. Good thing we took it down, it would have been in a neighbors yard (or car) after Hurricane Charley.

[SubTropicRay]

Eric,

Where did you find a description of "Imperialis"?   That's an old croton of which I have no photos or descriptions.

Ray

[Dave Butler]

Ray,

Imperialis is a old name thats been changed. I have a old photo of that croton with the new name there calling it these days. Soon as I find it I`ll post it.

[Eric in Orlando]

'Imperialis' is also called 'Imperiale'

[SubTropicRay]

Eric,

In which book did you find the name?  I know of this croton but have yet to find a reference to it in print.

Ray

[SunnyFl]

(Ray @ Tampa,Aug. 22 2006,07:44)

QUOTE

Sunny,

I will look for one at the meeting

Ray

Re: the Gloriosa croton....

Thank you Ray - much appreciated

[Eric in Orlando]

Ray,

I found it in Tropica, it says it is also called 'Appleleaf'. The description says it is a small, compact plant, simple eeliptic leaves , almost entirely yellow shading to peach and turning rose and red, green midrib and apex turning metallic purple.

I don't think that is the plant I have. I was looking thru Dr. Brown's book and 'Daisy Ortegas' looks similar. Are you familiar with it?

[SubTropicRay]

Ahhhhh Tropica...the $300 monstrosity of a book.  As soon as I can find a used one, I will invest in a copy.

[Dave Butler]

(Eric in Orlando @ Aug. 25 2006,10:55)

QUOTE

Ray,

I found it in Tropica, it says it is also called 'Appleleaf'. The description says it is a small, compact plant, simple eeliptic leaves , almost entirely yellow shading to peach and turning rose and red, green midrib and apex turning metallic purple.

I don't think that is the plant I have. I was looking thru Dr. Brown's book and 'Daisy Ortegas' looks similar. Are you familiar with it?

Appleleaf is also called Mrs.Iceton in some parts

[Dave Butler]

Here`s one I found today, any ideas

[aussiearoids]

could this one be Picasso ?

[SubTropicRay]

Dave,

Is that Rosie O' Grady or Norma?

Tully,

That leaf looks like one of Charles Rutherford's creations known as "Kentucky".

Ray

[Dave Butler]

(Ray, Tampa @ Aug. 26 2006,19:08)

QUOTE

Ahhhhh Tropica...the $300 monstrosity of a book.  As soon as I can find a used one, I will invest in a copy.

Ray,

I wish I would of known earlier you wanted a copy, I just sold a Tropica mint condition for $100

[Really full garden]

I have been enjoying all the photos.The lowlands of Guatemala are croton heaven.They are very popular and can be seen in the most humble of gardens to millionaires estates.I do have trouble with iguanas.They devour my crotons and hibiscus especially during our dry season.They see my garden as a salad buffet.

                                                                                         Scott

[Dave Butler]

(scottgt @ Aug. 29 2006,19:53)

QUOTE

I have been enjoying all the photos.The lowlands of Guatemala are croton heaven.They are very popular and can be seen in the most humble of gardens to millionaires estates.I do have trouble with iguanas.They devour my crotons and hibiscus especially during our dry season.They see my garden as a salad buffet.

                                                                                         Scott

Post some pictures of those crotons in Guatemala, that will be interesting to see them.

[Kom Thai Palm]

Hi, Dave

I have some picture for you!!!

[Kom Thai Palm]

2...

[Kom Thai Palm]

3...

[Kom Thai Palm]

today's last one!

[Ken Johnson]

I have been to the Bachmann place, bought a bunch of palms that Randy had planted.

[Dave Butler]

Ken, your next stop around the corner should of been the Davis home he was a palm collector way back when.

[Dave Butler]

(redvdox @ Sep. 02 2006,09:45)

QUOTE

Hi, Dave

I have some picture for you!!!

Now we need to find a way to get them beauties from there to here

[Dave Butler]

(Ray, Tampa @ Aug. 28 2006,08:51)

QUOTE

Dave,

Is that Rosie O' Grady or Norma?

Ray,

Rosie O Grady maybe, If so thats a good find. Not to many of them growing in someones yard

[Dave Butler]

It would be nice to see different crotons growing in different parts of the world. You guys across the pond post some of the beauties.

[Eric in Orlando]

Anyone into collecting the other 2 colorful tropical shrubs with colored leaves, Ti Plant, Cordyline fruticosa or Copperleaf, Acalypha wilkesiana ?