Crotons Crotons Crotons

[Jeff Searle]

Eric,

    I collect many nice Ti plants. Their for sale if your interested, you can PM me.

[gsn]

newbie croton question from a 9b climate.

Which varieties are the most cold tolerant,and will any take freezing temps?

thanks,

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Scott,

I see huge Mortii, Stewartii, Fred Sanders, Yellow Excurrens, Purity and Aureo Maculatum (Golddust) growing all over central Florida.  Duke of Windsor and Lyratum are also hardy growers.  A harsh winter will burn them to the ground but these varieties have a better chance of coming back than the newer hybrids.

Ray

[TooShort]

Just to add to Rays reply, whatever is sold at your local nursery or home depot and lowes.

[richtrav]

Ray

Thanks for that short list of crotons that are a little more root-hardy. I remember seeing Aureomaculatum (Gold dust) and the thin-leaf form of it (Goldfinger?) returning from the '89 freeze in far South Texas, but that was such a long time ago and I wasn't all that into crotons at the time so I can't recall which other varieties made it and which didn't. Gold dust seems about the easiest to grow here. Do you know if anyone in Central Florida had a large croton collection in the '80s?

Richard

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Richard,

The thin leaf version of "Gold dust" is called "Punctatum".  Yes, it is another good choice.  

Another good one is "Andreanum".  This one is a widely grown older variety that still has a trememdous appeal.

I'm not aware of any big cen Fla collections that were around in the 1980's.  That was a time when crotons were still suffering from the bad reputation started in the 50's and 60's.  Only in the last decade have these plants started to regain their 1930's and 40's appeal.

Ray

[gsn]

Ray,

Thanks for the reply.Mostly what I have seen around here comes from probably  Homstead (mamey,petras,stoplight,and excellente).

I have heard that the broader leaf varieties are more cold tolerant than the narrower leaf ,is this generally true?

Joe,

You are kidding right?

Probably 50% of the stuff HomeDepot and Lowes sells around here won't make it through a marginal central florida winter,little lone a bad winter,palms included!

I really can't comprehend what they sell zone wise sometimes.

[SubTropicRay]

Generally speaking, the narrow leaf varieties are less cold tolerant.  The "Punctatum" Richard mentioned is an exception but others like the famous "Picasso's Paintbrush" get hammered by drying winds.  Others I have found to be bad for central Florida winters include:

1.  Florida Selecta (go figure)

2.  Super California

3.  Interruptum

4.  Sweet Marie

5.  Tortoise Shell

[richtrav]

Ray

What's been your experience with Stoplight?

richard

[Dave Butler]

I lived in the Ocala area for 2 years and noticed alot of crotons planted outside growing great. Some of my neighbors told me when they planted them they where slowly introduced into the cold winters. Keeping them in pots in the garage where its also cold but no wind. Best looking ones where Petra`s, Mammeys, Dreadlocks, Bravo and a few others. Acclamation to the cold is a must, and placement from the winds. Silly me did not take pictures of a frost covered Bravo when it got down in the 20`s. Homeowner says it will be fine with  losing a couple of leaves, and new ones coming right back. Anything is possible with patience and finding out what works. AFD`s also grow there the local Home Depot had crotons outside for sale in the winter months with no problems. Bradenton, Fl. is also full of beautiful crotons its the first place in Florida where Crotons basically came from. Remember acclamation is the key with this even some palms will grow in the colder months if there introduced as seedlings. :cool:

[SubTropicRay]

Dave,

What you say is true.  Even within one winter you can see the plants harden off.  35F in December is much more damaging than that same temperature in February.  Super California though, has to be the wimpiest of all crotons.  Even the ones outside of HD defoliate.

Richard,

Stoplight is another hardy plant.  I should have included that one in my first response.  There are many huge plants in my area. Again, it is an older, proven variety.

Ray

[Dave Butler]

Dig it out and its yours thats what he said.

Polychrome

[epicure3]

Here's a picture of one of mine. I don't know if I already posted this but I ain't lookin' through 7 pages to find out. Anywho....this is more like a small tree at this point. There is a ficus lyrata moving in on its territory.

[SubTropicRay]

I'm coming down there with a shovel.

[epicure3]

(Ray, Tampa @ Oct. 07 2006,09:30)

QUOTE

I'm coming down there with a shovel.

LOL. I'm actually torn since I love the fiddle leaf fig. Now if it was some alpinia or heydichium.....it would be slash and burn time.

[SunnyFl]

(epicure3 @ Oct. 06 2006,22:50)

QUOTE

Here's a picture of one of mine. I don't know if I already posted this but I ain't lookin' through 7 pages to find out. Anywho....this is more like a small tree at this point. There is a ficus lyrata moving in on its territory.

Wowee - what kind of croton is that?

My happy croton news - I found a Gloriosa! - and a Rudy Bachman!  Just a couple left at the Searle sale so I grabbed those and a Royal Flush, along with the palms.  Photos soon.

[spockvr6]

Id took a few cuttings off of a couple of large Crotons in my aunt's yard today.  Can anyone ID the variety?  And, is it way too late in the year to try and root these in the ground?

[SubTropicRay]

Stoplight

[spockvr6]

(Ray, Tampa @ Oct. 09 2006,11:17)

QUOTE

Stoplight

Thanks.

[epicure3]

(SunnyFl @ Oct. 08 2006,19:55)

QUOTE

Wowee - what kind of croton is that?

I have no earthly clue.

[Dave Butler]

(Ray, Tampa @ Oct. 09 2006,11:17)

QUOTE

Stoplight

I agree

[SubTropicRay]

What are these?

[SubTropicRay]

??

[SubTropicRay]

Another mystery

[SubTropicRay]

What the @#%&??

[SubTropicRay]

Anybody know?

[SubTropicRay]

?????

[SubTropicRay]

More mysteries

[SunnyFl]

(Ray @ Tampa,Oct. 17 2006,21:15)

QUOTE

Another mystery

Could "another mystery" be the Exquisite?  I have one with leaves that are shaped exactly like this - it's just a bit more yellow - but that could be due to the difference in how much light the two plants are getting.

[SunnyFl]

(Ray, Tampa @ Oct. 17 2006,21:15)

QUOTE

What the @#%&??

Do you think this might be a Gloriosa?  Looks a bit like mine, except mine is a small one.  Here's a pic (riv in background):

[SubTropicRay]

Bump.

Come on Dave B., post some new croton photos.  The One Hit Wonder category is stealing the thunder.

Ray

[Dave Butler]

I can find 50 or 60 more photos, or go to Jeffs and photo up his collection

[Jeff Searle]

(Dave Butler @ Oct. 26 2006,20:46)

QUOTE

I can find 50 or 60 more photos, or go to Jeffs and photo up his collection

Dave,

     Bring on the pics. I don't want to see that "One Hit Wonder" catch your thread. Any nice pics. of Monarch, Magnificent, Polychrome, Prince of Orange, Glen Roof, or a Richard Krukonis?

[Dave Butler]

Ray,

Where did you get those pictures from??

[Dave Butler]

AFRIKA

[Dave Butler]

AMERICA

[Dave Butler]

ARROWHEAD

[Dave Butler]

Bogorensis

[Dave Butler]

CONGO

[Dave Butler]

KENTUCKY