Croton Stoplight

[Looking Glass]

I was able to snag a handful of stoplight crotons recently that I plan to put out front along the back edge of the center driveway island.  I’ll remove some of the grass on the back edge of the center, and spread 5x of them along the edge.  Hopefully they grow up into a loose backdrop of color.   They should give a good pop in that spot, as they grow up.   

This spot is a very heavy sun area, so it’s not for every type of croton or accent plant.  It’s heavy on the irrigation heads, so it can be kept pretty wet.  Maybe the Mammy variants and Golddust and Sunny Star could also make it here, but Stoplight is said to take sun well too, and is more unique for around here.  

Any of you guys growing Stoplight (post pics), and having success in heavy sun?   The leaves are not thick and leathery like Petra, but also not super thin either.   I’m hoping they do ok.  I’m expecting droopiness and watering 2x per day there, til they get established.   

Also couldn’t resist getting an Exellente…

And grabbed a newly potted, but green, air layer of Irene Kingsley that should redden up with some sun.…

 

[Matt N- Dallas]

Here’s ‘Stoplight’ (the larger crotons) growing in full sun in Harlingen, TX z9b.  These were planted as small, 3gal plants. 
‘Excurrens’ has also grown very well in full sun here. 

[Looking Glass]

1 hour ago, Matt N- Dallas said:

Here’s ‘Stoplight’ (the larger crotons) growing in full sun in Harlingen, TX z9b.  These were planted as small, 3gal plants. 
‘Excurrens’ has also grown very well in full sun here. 

Those look great!  Glad to hear they are holding up in 9b.  I was wondering about cold hardiness.  My most cold sensitive croton seems to be Picasso’s Paintbrush.   Those defoliate a bunch in the 40s for me.  I was hoping not, for Stoplight.  

[Looking Glass]

Welp, on a gloomy day, between rain showers, I took back some lawn and added the 5x Stoplights, and threw in Irene Kingsley and a couple bromeliads.  Put in a border edge to hold back the green tide, and mulched it all in.  

 

It looks a little happier and less boring now.   Needs to grow in and grow up, and I’ve got a couple more treats coming for this spot to brighten it up.   Hopefully Stoplight can handle the setting sun there.   It should be a rainy week, and temps and sun should be less every day going into fall and winter, so they have time to root in.   😬

[Looking Glass]

After about 6 months in blazing sun, stoplight performed very well and filled in nicely.  It actually seems to need the blazing sun to keep the colors.  Fairly speedy, but needs a lot of water in all that heat.  Winter gave it time to root in well, now tolerating late dry season blazing sun and drier conditions without special care past irrigation.  Hopefully summer heat and sun will bring out the colors.  I’ve been prioritizing growth over color, so the excess nitrogen has greened them up a bit, while speeding growth.   This central spot continues to evolve.  

 

Overall, I think this is my favorite croton.   Time, sun & heat, and less nitrogen should bring some vivid color later in the year.  

[Looking Glass]

Stoplight has been pretty happy in that spot.  Really filled out into a small bush now.   This cooler weather has brought out the “stop” colors mostly.  Spring and early summer brings out more greens and yellows.  

 

Colors seem to go from green, to yellow, to orange to red, to dark maroon/ almost purple, as each leaf ages.   Slower growth gives more reds.  

[iDesign]

On 12/29/2024 at 9:36 AM, Looking Glass said:

Stoplight has been pretty happy in that spot.  Really filled out into a small bush now.   This cooler weather has brought out the “stop” colors mostly.  Spring and early summer brings out more greens and yellows.  

 

Colors seem to go from green, to yellow, to orange to red, to dark maroon/ almost purple, as each leaf ages.   Slower growth gives more reds.  

Stunningly beautiful! I personally like the red hues best anyway (esp in winter when color is less plentiful).

[Looking Glass]

On 1/11/2025 at 4:05 PM, iDesign said:

Stunningly beautiful! I personally like the red hues best anyway (esp in winter when color is less plentiful).

You do love a good, red shrub it seems.  Overall, I’m pretty impressed with this group.  Stoplight is growing pretty fast, to the point that it’s getting a bit top heavy for its stems, and starting to droop over.   A pretty good choice though, for a very sunny area here, where you’d usually find Mammie planted.  The thinner, bigger leaves mean more water is needed though, to keep them happy.   I wanted to establish a bushy backdrop, to that center area, with some color there, and that is working out over time.  Now, just to keep them upright and happy.