Plant of the Week: Crotons

If you love the hot tropical color of plants in your garden, then crotons are a plant for you! Crotons are sun loving although can tolerant partial shade. They are semi tropical and will require protection from winter cold. The deer usually do not eat them and they are salt tolerant for those customers with those issues. Crotons come in many sizes and shapes but all with the hot colors that we love. Here are some choices:

Croton Petra:

Croton Petra are much loved for their brilliant color in the landscape! Petra has large leaves in shades of reds, oranges, yellows and greens that become even more vibrant in full sun. One of the best potted plants around the pool area that provide lots of color with no mess. Protect during hard freezes. They can grow 4’-5’ tall and 3’-4’ wide and make beautiful accent plants in your garden or in containers.

Croton Mammy:

Mammy has unusual ‘corkscrew’ leaves in shades of reds, oranges, yellows and greens that become even more vibrant in full sun. Also a great plants around the pool area as well as an accent plant in your garden. They also grow 3’-4’ high and 3’-4’ wide.

Croton Magnificent:

The Croton Magnificent foliage has larger leaves as well but the colors of bright orange, red, yellow and green are more mottled on the leaves. These plants also provide a splash of color in the landscape and make beautiful containers.