(Borhidis Guano Palm, Guano)

The tight clusters of stiff, bluish green leaves on the Borhidis guano palm are most beautiful when viewed from above. For that reason alone, it's worthwhile acquiring young plants to enjoy for years in the garden before the trunk elongates. This evergreen palm is native only to the coasts of Cuba, where it is now endangered. It is very slow-growing, and becomes a short single-trunk palm over several decades. Old, dead leaves in the canopy persist, creating a brown petticoat.

The leaves have...

(Old Man Palm, Thatch Palm)

Once you see the thickly thatched trunk of the old man palm, you'll understand why some people insist it looks like Cousin It from the Addams Family! This threatened evergreen palm is native only to Cuba, where it sparsely inhabits grasslands and hillsides. It is slow-growing, and eventually becomes a two-story-tall, single-trunk palm over several decades. In windy growing conditions, the beard-like thatch is shed on oldest plants.

The leaves have fairly long petiole stems, causing the round...

(Old Man Palm, Thatch Palm)

Very long, coarse, beard-like fibers develop on this subspecies of the old man palm. This threatened evergreen palm is native only to Cuba, where it sparsely inhabits grasslands and hillsides. It is slow-growing, and becomes an upright, single-trunk palm over several decades. In windy growing conditions, the beard-like thatch is shed on oldest plants.

The leaves have fairly long petiole stems, causing the round leaves with stiff pointed segments to jut out from the ornate, thatch-covered trunk....

(Croton)

Codiaeum variegatum, more commonly known as croton, is an evergreen native to Malaysia and islands in the western Pacific. The flowers are insignificant but the foliage comes in a wide variety of brightly splashed or spotted, smooth, ruffled or twisted shapes. Mature crotons are "V" shaped.

Crotons grow best in well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade; in hot sunny climates they look best if shaded from the hottest sun of the day. Too much sun will bleach the color out of the leaves...

(Croton, Garden Croton)

Codiaeum variegatum, more commonly known as croton, is an evergreen native to Malaysia and islands in the western Pacific. The flowers are insignificant but the foliage comes in a wide variety of brightly splashed or spotted, smooth, ruffled or twisted shapes. Croton 'AFD 7' is an oak-leaf variety, older leaves are red over green with yellow veins and new leaves are green with yellow veins. Mature crotons are "V" shaped.

Crotons grow best in well-drained soil and in full sun to partial...

(Croton)

Colorful crotons in the landscape are a sure sign of warm climates. Codiaeum variegatum is an evergreen shrub native to Malaysia and islands of the western Pacific. Banana is a small, spreading variety. The star-shaped flowers are produced on long stalks but are insignificant. The brightly-hued foliage is the attraction. Banana’s leaves are linear with bluntly, rounded tips, arranged spirally around the stems. The new leaves emerge light green with streaks of yellow and mature to dark green...

(Croton, Curly Boy Croton, Garden Croton)

Codiaeum variegatum, more commonly known as croton, is an evergreen native to Malaysia and islands in the western Pacific. The flowers are insignificant but the foliage comes in a wide variety of brightly splashed or spotted, smooth, ruffled or twisted shapes. Curly Boy has twisting, oblong leaves arranged spirally around the stem. They are dark green with a red to purple overlay, yellow to orange “paint spots” and yellow midribs. Mature crotons are "V" shaped.

Crotons grow best in...

(Croton, Dreadlocks Croton)

Codiaeum variegatum, more commonly known as croton, is an evergreen native to Malaysia and islands in the western Pacific. The flowers are insignificant but the foliage comes in a wide variety of brightly splashed or spotted, smooth, ruffled or twisted shapes. Croton ‘Dreadlocks’ has long, linear leaves with pointed tips that are twisted with wavy margins. The color is “paint splotched” yellow over medium green. The new leaves are yellow to orange darkening with age to green with a red overlay...

(Croton)

Colorful crotons in the landscape are a sure sign of warm climates. Codiaeum variegatum is an evergreen shrub native to Malaysia and islands of the western Pacific. Excellent is a variously colored, oak-leafed variety. The star-shaped flowers are produced on long stalks but are insignificant. The brightly-hued foliage is the attraction. Excellent’s leaves are lobed with an elongated central lobe, arranged spirally around the stems. The new leaves emerge light green with yellow veins and...

(Croton, Fantasy Croton, Garden Croton)

Codiaeum variegatum, more commonly known as croton, is an evergreen native to Malaysia and islands in the western Pacific. The flowers are insignificant but the foliage comes in a wide variety of brightly splashed or spotted, smooth, ruffled or twisted shapes. Croton ‘Fantasy’ has elliptical leaves which are sharply pointed at both ends. The new leaves are chartreuse green with broad, yellow veins and midribs. The older leaves are burgundy to pink over dark green and yellow. Mature crotons...