Graptophyllum Species, Caricature Plant, Jamaican Croton

Graptophyllumpictum

Family
Acanthaceae (ah-kanth-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Graptophyllum (Grap-toh-FILL-um)
Species
pictum (PIK-tum)
Synonym
Graptophyllum hortense
Graptophyllum picturatum
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Height
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Spacing
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Bloom Color
Lavender
Bloom Time
Other Details
Category
Shrubs
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From softwood cuttings
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

San Jose, California

Big Pine Key, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Cape Coral, Florida

Delray Beach, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)

Miami, Florida(2 reports)

Palm Harbor, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Seminole, Florida

Vero Beach, Florida

Kihei, Hawaii

Austin, Texas

Beaumont, Texas

Missouri City, Texas

Taft, Texas

Richmond, Virginia

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

8
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
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P
Fort Lauderdale, FL | May 2016 | positive

I have 2 of these Graptophyllum plants both about 3 foot tall. From May-Oct they get full South Florida sun but during Nov - Apr they rec...Read More

S
Richmond, VA (Zone 7b) | October 2012 | positive

I have had a container Graptophyllum for a few months now, and while it was doing quite well initially, it has begun not to look so good....Read More

F
Palm Harbor, FL (Zone 9b) | June 2012 | positive

This is a beautiful plant here in my 9b yard. As others have mentioned, it really does need wet soil during the summer months or it wilts...Read More

T
Miami, FL (Zone 10b) | May 2008 | positive

Have had this growing along the north side of my house for some years in a very tricky spot with poor, limestoney-sandy soil that gets on...Read More

C
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 9b) | April 2007 | positive

Pretty easy plant to maintain. Does like water though. As for cold tolerance, it drops some of it's leaves when we get dry air in the win...Read More

P
Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) | September 2006 | positive

This plant is really easy to grow and is also easy to propagate. Take softwood stem cuttings and put them in water and in no time you'll ...Read More

C
Russell, KY (Zone 6b) | June 2005 | positive

This is another really easy keeper- I have yet to have a problem of any kind. Beautiful and yet doesn't grow so quickly that it needs a ...Read More

M
(Zone 11) | September 2003 | positive

This plant´s foliage is so atractive that the showy red/purple flowers are just a secondary atraction. Great for color compositions.

D
D
(Zone 10a) | February 2002 | neutral

When grown together, these two colours give a magnificient effect.

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