Croton is a tropical plant known for its variegated foliage covered in green, scarlet, orange, and yellow splotches. Crotons are native to the tropical forests of southeast Asia and Oceania. In the wild, they grow as large shrubs, reaching up to 10 feet tall. It is not hardy and frost will kill it. It was introduced in Europe and the USA as a colorful houseplant loved for its bright, colorful foliage. It can be grown outside in tropical climates like Florida.
Years ago I moved from Tennessee to greater Miami. It was like a dream with the ocean and warm climate. One of the first things I discovered were neighborhoods filled with crotons. I didn’t know what they were, but I loved them.
I have crotons lining the flower bed by my porch. I like to share photos of them in the fall. I have colorful leaves all year long, but I am particularly fond of them in fall. There are no colorful fall leaves in central Florida which is semi-tropical. There are deciduous trees but the leaves just turn brown and drop to the ground. It always seems to me that after a hot, sunny summer the crotons are bright and look their best.
Happy Fall from Florida.
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…Mother Nature painted these beautifully.
Your crotons are lovely! Lately I have been taking photos of not only flowers but their colorful leaves, and will have a post about them soon. I certainly enjoyed yours and that pretty butterfly. You live in a wonderful area with incredible fauna, and the bird life too, also other wildlife. I look forward to visiting Florida again so that I can enjoy them. Thanks for sharing Carol 🙂
You always say the nicest things – hope you had a great weekend!
Wonderful butterfly 🙂
These are beautiful, Carol. They remind me a bit of coleus but beautifully shaped!
I own on of these as a houseplant. I struggled with it for some time but the moment I moved it into a self watering pot everything changed and it has become so much more beautiful and healthy.
Your crotons are beautiful, Carol.
Gorgeous photos as always, especially that butterfly shot 🦋
Beautiful photos and vivid colours and good butterfly capture too 🙂
Have a crotontastic week 👍
What a lovely butterfly on those colorful crotons.
Crotons are very pretty. Do they belong to the Poinsettia family? Lovely capture of the butterfly.
Crotons are among my favorite plants for Florida landscapes. Codiaeum variegatum, as named by horticulturists and scientists, are evergreen shrubs native to Malaysia and islands of the eastern Pacific.They belong to the plant family Euphorbiaceae and are not connected to Poinsettia. The poinsettia is a plant species of the diverse spurge family.
Oh I like crotons very much , I had many varieties once in my collection but had to let them go due to renovation in the house. Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.