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Sign of the Times: Crotons are In!
(Codiaum variegatum pictum)
 Nothing heralds the coming season quite like a croton; its showy autumn colors practically shout "fall is almost here!" It's no wonder crotons are among our favorites for autumn arrangements and displays. Read on to learn more about these beauties and maybe they will become one of your fall favorites too!
Native to the tropical climates of southern Asia, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands, crotons enjoy warm, humid conditions. Temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees are ideal (shield from cold air and drafts), misting is beneficial and they need to be watered thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch. Croton leaves are most colorful when grown in bright, indirect light. Small, green or thinning leaves mean your croton needs more light.
In the wild, crotons can reach 10 feet tall, but don't worry, you won't have to battle through a croton jungle in your living room- as a houseplant they stay a modest 1 to 3 feet. Sometimes referred to as Joseph's Coat, crotons can wear an array of colors, including green, white, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple, and there are a variety of leaf shapes available.
Members of the Euphorbiaceae family, along with poinsettias, crotons produce a milky sap from leaves and stems that can be a skin irritant. Flowers are rare but possible and should be removed to reserve energy for producing more leaves. However, before you snip them, you might be interested to know that male flowers are white and female flowers are yellow.
Croton's warm colors are an excellent compliment to mums, asters, marigolds, autumn fern and lettuce. Use them in table arrangements or tuck them around and between pumpkins and gourds in a front porch display. (Insider's tip: add a touch of LeafShine to keep those colors glossy!) Come in and discover our selection of crotons this fall! | 
September is a time of transitions: as the summer season wanes we look forward to autumn, and in our gardens summer flowers put on their last big show. Most warm-season annuals will last until frost, so leave thriving plants untouched and enjoy, pull tired plants and fill in with fresh- let the two seasons mingle for awhile.