Plant of the Week: Crotons

You don't see these growing outside in Britain, but in the wild, the croton is an evergreen shrub that can reach 10ft in height. In cooler climes, it's a houseplant, andfar smaller.

By The Newsroom

Published 19th Nov 2010, 14:18 BST

Updated 19th Nov 2010, 14:18 BST

These cultivated forms are also usually much more colourful, but even this rather more sedate variety would be a glorious addition to any home or garden over here.

Forget about flowers, crotons are grown for their foliage – and depending on the cultivar, the leaves may be ovate to linear, entire to deeply lobed, and variegated with green, white, purple, orange, yellow, red or pink.

In their element, they revel in the warmth and humidity. They love bright light or partial shade, but they don't like hot, direct sun. So, growing them indoors, in a conservatory, needs a bit of care.

Crotons also need a moist, rich, well-drained soil. Water and fertilise them weekly during the growing season, but cut down on the watering in winter.

In dry rooms, the leaves will appreciate a spray with tepid water.

YP MAG 20/11/10

Britain