Codiaeum variegatum — the Croton, the world’s most colorful shrub
I t h a s b e e n c a l l e d t h e world’s most colorful shrub, which is certainly not an exa g ge r a t i on and I have been in love with it ever since I made my fifirst visit to the Caribbean 30 years ago. If you are a gardener then you probably know that the plant I am talking about is the croton.
Crotons are known botanically as Codiaeum variegatum and though I fi r s t b e c a me e n a more d wi t h them in the Caribbean they are native to Malaysia, Indonesia Northern Australia, and western Pacifific Islands. Family-wise it is a Euphorbia meaning it is related to copper plants.
In the Caribbean and likewise its native habitats you’ll see this somewhat woody perennial reaching more than 6 feet tall, giving a carnival-like atmosphere to wherever it is being grown.
For the amount of impact they give they are certainly a good buy. Wherever I look, whether grown with elephant ears, hibiscus or the Hawaiian Ti plant, the look is festive and tropical.
It is this time of the year that crotons start showing up as special buys in the garden center. I love it for a couple of reasons.
First I love using crotons in partnership with Belgian mums for a colorful fall display. I like them with pumpkins and asters too. You can let your creative genius come alive. There are no rules to follow on how to use your tropical croton — or better yet make that plural ... crotons. Buy several don’t, be bashful.
As I write this I am sitting in a large sun room with a ton of glass and available light that will be just perfect for not just the world’s most colorful shrub but the world’s most colorful house- plant. In the landscape, we want fertile organic-rich soil with good drainage. In your indoor houseplant selec t a good flfluffffffffffffy humus blend that has controlled released fertilizer.
Indoors they will need bright light, with a moment or two of direct sun. In the landsc ape, it seems they thrive anywhere other than pure shade. It is the sunlight that stimulates this incredible display of color. As a houseplant keep ample moisture but never soggy or wet. If your room has low humidity, consider placing your container on a saucer of wet gravel.
The croton is cold hardy to zones 10 and 11 and in these locales (most of South Florida is in zone 10), they would be spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. If you are going to use them as annuals like in my region they should be massed or clustered together 18 to 24-inches apart for the showiest display.
There are a number of varieties and types of leaf shapes and size but basically, you will be buying generically, which with this plant seems to be just fifine. This plant with large glossy waxy leaves and every shade of gold, yellow, green, red, and pink is simply to mesmerizing to overlook.
Take this opportunity to use them in your fall décor and indoors as well.