(Barbados Silver Palm, Silver Palm, Thatch Palm)

The Barbados silver palm is one of the tallest and fastest growing silver thatch palm species. It also produces so many seeds that you often seen this normally solitary-trunk palm in a cluster of variously sized plants at its base. This evergreen palm is native to the coastal scrublands in Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago and northern Venezuela. No matter how tall this palm gets, the trunk never seems to get wider than 6 inches (15 cm). Aerial roots often rise from the trunk base.

The leaves are borne...

(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...

(Brazilian Rose, Buttercup-tree)

Austere, barren skeletal branches are seen on the buttercup-tree for nearly half of the year, but the ornate yellow flowers in late winter remind you the tree is still alive. This fast-growing deciduous tree is native to the arid savannahs and scrublands of Mexico and Central America. The tree is upright in habit, but the awkwardly oval canopy reveals stubby, random branches. Bark is pale gray, adding to the tree's ghostly look.

The green leaves are palmately compound, looking like hands or...

(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...

(Batik Croton, 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. Batik is a dark-leafed, small, spreading variety. The star-shaped flowers are produced on long stalks but are insignificant. The brightly-hued foliage is the attraction. Batik’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...

(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...