Wow...two crotons/one plant

Today we attacked a stand of crotons that had just grown too large and one 'pattern' had outgrown and overtaken all of the others. One plant, sent to me by a good friend in Fl. years ago was a creamy white and green...and a slow grower. Once all of the other crotons were taken down and the ones I really wanted to keep were standing tall and skinny... I noticed:

One branch of the creamy/white and green plant was growing leaves almost black with yellow and orange spots. Huh? I have taken the photo trying to show both leaves and the 'crotch' where they are all growing from...this is one plant!!! The dark 'does not belong here' leaf I am holding top left.

Edited to ask.... 'is this usual' or common or... ?????

This message was edited Feb 16, 2009 7:34 PM

Changes in color in Croton is not common, but, I have seen it several times.

Here is one plant that also shows what can happen>

Auntie Kalola, the green and white croton is C. Eburneum, it is a sport in itself.So it can sport or revert to green, or forms of green easily.Just cut those sections out or the green form will overpower the white form.I kinda like the dark form yours has. Nice deep color.

Dale, you should propagate the yellow sport from the one you pictured, its a very nice form.Fainting spells happen ya know, just be careful with the shears when you fall. LOL
Kyle :-)

Thanks, Kyle...will cut it out!!!

Dale..LOVE that yellow. Yes, propagate it!!!

Around here crotons are often dismissed as being 'so common', but nothing short of coleus brings such masses of colors to the garden!!!!

Carol

Carol & Kyle,

I propagated that yellow Mamey last year....

Kyle,

Are you selling off any plants or cuttings from the greenhouses?

I have posted this photo before, but, I just can't get over how nice these Crotons work together. If you have seen it before, well, look at it again. Also, I have all of these plants in my collection (and they are all small).

Georgeous Dale.

Crotons, Ti, Hou...unspoken colorful heros!!!!!

Here is a yellow Turkey Foot croton that I discovered growing in a condo complex. It is too early in the year (too cold) to take cuttings....soon it will be mine.

Beautiful crotons. I don't have very good luck with them. They always get disease. I have one now that I am trying to keep alive. I just took it from the covered patio and put it in the sun now that it is warming up in my area.

Mine is in my ittey bittey greenhouse and struggling. Big leaves are dropping but is putting our new growth at the top.

Well...I always identified with Cinderella as a kid...so I love the ignored and rejected!!! Crotons here are considered by many to be so common... b o r i n g...yawn as they say it! I love them! Especially paired with some solid green to light off the colors or standing alone....

Common plants in the right combination can make a difference of how folks 'see' them>

I always try to get a photo of memorable plantings.

Dale your pictures of plants and landscapes are always appreciated, something for me to strive for....
I love the variegated ginger with the Ti.

Lovely planting!