Gardening in Hawaii is a year round pleasure. Serious gardeners love the native plants which thrive in this climate, and don't require a lot of maintenance. Here on Maui you will find the bright foliage of Crotons everywhere.
Tropical Curb Appeal: Choose Colorful Crotons!
One of my favorite tropical plants that packs a serious color punch are Crotons. Adding these bright plants to your yard or interior space can create a dramatic eye catching effect that will turn buyers heads.
Crotons or Codiaeum variegatum are native to the Pacific Islands and are prodigiously grown through out Polynesia. Very popular in Kama'aina gardens here in Hawaii, Crotons have only recently (last 20 years or so) found their way into interior spaces as potted plants. Crotons grow to heights of 5' to 6' and are stocky colorful shrubs. The firm waxy leaves sprouting in tight pinwheel fashion, turn from a dark green to a kaleidoscope of colors; ranging from dark red to bright pink with, purples, oranges, and yellows. Croton leaves are sensitive to light intensity and show best in part shade environments as full sun fades the coloring.
What makes Crotons a stagers dream is that the leaves can be rooted and placed in an arrangement that lasts for 2 to 3 months. Such easy maintenance is ideal for home staging and the bright colors add a powerful pop to interior decor.
Draw backs : some varieties will ooze white sap, if the leaves are torn or punctured, and it can stain fabric. Also If you move an outdoor plant inside you may lose leaves if the lighting decreases so try to find a space in the home that shares similar light to it's former outdoor environment.
Croton Varietals : 'Banana', 'Gold Dust', 'Mammy', 'Norma', 'Petra', 'Sunny Star'. Petra is the varietal shown here.
Crotons can dress up those unsightly utility pipes and still allow plenty of room for access.
JDS Consulting- Staging Hawaii nei! Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Visit our Blog: Questions for Kimo: Decor Design & all things Hawaiian- www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009
Oh my gosh, you live in such a beautiful part of the world it seems easy to point your camera and click! Wow!
Okay, I have one question, why is there a red X at the bottom of this post?
Russell - hmmm that must be because it's not my original content, but a reblog. these aren't my pictures. I cheated today and did a reblog that seemed appropriate.
Hi Georgina...I lived in Puerto Rico for four years and we had plenty of crotons. I had never seen them before I moved down there. We did not have them up in Connecticut.
Kate
Hi Kate - I'm surprised to hear that you lived in Puerto Rico - how did you like the coqui frogs?
Georgina - I love crotons and have always had them in my garden whereever I have lived here in Florida.