Curly Boy Croton.

That's a nice plant. Hopefully, it will grow go for you. Don't put it in full sun. You don't want the leaves to burn off like my Mammy croton did when my neighbor cut her tree.

Here,they need all the sun they can get. Its the warming more then the intensity that gets them to grow- the black pots get the roots warmed up.
It might burn in those rare super heat waves...we will see.
My Mammy got a hot spot and I never moved it.
Winter is the worry and wet cold roots. The plan is in December move them to the porch..and back out to sun next February..if its normal.

I guess that is true. We had temps here in the upper 80's and low 90's back in January and early February. That's really hot anytime of the year.

I will have to move my Mammy to another spot. It's just too sunny and hot in the spot it was located.

Did you buy this Croton at Home Depot?

Yep,HD. I almost ordered 'Stoplight' online. I thought 3 would be cheaper when it came to ordering. Well,it wasn't and three plants in three 4" pots with shipping came to $65. 2 days later I bought my two Croton's in 3 gallon pots for $34 at HD.
I might now try those smaller sized that HD sells if they are in another color or leaf shape then what I have.
I feel like every year is a better year to try them. Only 33f this year..My old Mammy would be going on its 4th summer,as this year I know it would have made it.

WOW! That's very expensive. Even that one at Home Dept is expensive. Typically, they sell for 15.99 here in that size pot. I can't believe it's less than half the price here.

The HD were $17 each. That's the best I've seen them. Lowes had them- in nicer pots- for $25 each. That's not a bad deal..they might have been a little larger plants also.
But, online Stoplight is just a 4" pot for $12 and another twelve for shipping per plant.

That's not a bad price. There's so many varieties available here in San Diego. I've seen Spotlight available for sale here in 3 gallon pots.

I was looking at my old photos of Petra. Ah!!!! more beautiful-and larger- then I remembered.

Croton Petra is a beautiful plant! I do see this variety along with the Angel Wing growing outdoors here. There's several at the SD Zoo. I think I've posted some pics in the past. Petra appears to tolerate more sun than some of the other varieties.

I might get another Petra soon,so I can put both in one pot. I'm getting too old for 4" crotons and 10 years wait. Two 3 gallon plants in one big pot,and I'm there.

I did it. I stopped at the Hayward HD and they had more and larger. So,for the same price as the others I bought a BIG Petra for a 3 gallon. I want to put them both together. They will never go in ground so the more the merrier to ward off cold and soaked roots in a bigger pot.

That's great! I though it would be available at H. D. I'm sure they'll look great together.

Made it this winter with no losses. Now with the tender Crotons,will that happen again? They look so great,and nobody has them outdoors around here.

Good luck! I know Crotons are very tricky in most areas of California. Coastal San Diego most likely has the best climate in all of California for Crotons (outside).

I was in Fremont today- 85f..Hayward was 82f. Woo. One more then decent 70f temps for the season. I thought though the Mango tree had a smile.

That's really warm. It was in the 80's further inland. Here where I live it was in the upper 70's tomorrow should be in the mid-80's.

I saw a huge hedge of Petra hedges today in front of a building going to Pacific Beach. I need to get some photos. The plants were flawless. I also saw a Petra at the movie theater on Base in Coronado tonight.

We had 3 days now of record warm in the bay area. Just a wild end of winter and start of spring.
I want to plant my large potted Pachypodium. Its been in the same size pot..and I think in ground they are safe. I might even get 1 or more small ones to make a small exotic thorny group. I like them.

I read about it. That's a terrific start to spring!

Pachypodium would most likely grow well in the ground there. They tolerate quite a bit of cold. They just don't like wet feet.

Some of those rain stats? I misread. We've had only 8" of rain and 3" of that was in March. Sure seemed wetter then 8". I guess the storms didn't pack a punch..but the snowpack is decent.

It would be great to see a hedge of Croton. Where it doesnt go below 40f much if at all and hardly any winter rains they should do fine. Why they are rare still here in Cal and esp. soucal is a wonder. You never see them pushed by landscapers down there.
I would also guess that the thin leafed Crotons let the occasional frosty air sift through and why those types are said to be "9b" hardy. I think 10b here is the least they want..10a if you try really hard!

Crotons are definitely a lot more common here in San Diego than anywhere else in California. I think 9b and 10a in Florida is growable for crotons (although, they can be killed in colder years there). Here in California 10b or higher only as a shrub.

My Angel Wings croton looks great! I need to transplants it into a larger container. It's super root-bound. My Mammy is coming back strong. It must be moved before really hot weather gets here. It's definitely in too much sun, now (since my neighbor cut her tree back to the trunk).

Yep Andy- Petra has handled greenhouse in Florida to full sun in California just fine. Curly Boy? I will move a bit. Its a little worn already.
If you ever accidentally break a piece of angel Croton off..wink wink.
I'm getting ready to plant out a Plumeria someplace. Not sure. I put in a Hass Avocado..seeing them at $3 each some times?..might as well grow my own.
SO far,Mango,Sapote,Banana(iffy flavor)Plum and now Avocado.
Just prune like mad!

Nothern California sun. lol! The full-sun down here will fry them, even when it's humid (where I live, anyway). Closer to the coast they do better in more sun.

If I ever get up to the Bay Area anytime soon, I can bring you one. Angel Wing Croton is a common variety sold everywhere here.

Yes, that's a lot of big trees. lol! :>))

From record warm to a Pineapple express and low 60's. Should rain two days pretty good...but i will see it to believe it.
Right now..most of the yards are still wet. Only the area under the big Podocarpus has needed help.

I know exactly what you mean. The last "Pineapple Express" forecasted here was supposed to have brought San Diego 2 to 3 inches of rain...then it it was revised down 1 to 2 inches then to .50 inch and all we got was a trace. I was so pissed! I used almost all my rainwater expecting a lot of rain. Now, I have only one barrel with some rain water.

I wasnt happy with the flavor of the banana. I talked to Ben in New Zealand and he says that there are tropical fruits-like banana's that can grow fine in cool z10's..but they never get as sweet as in warm climates. He did say the only exception was Ice Cream..the TRUE Ice Cream as mine is called that,but if that was what ALL banana's tasted like?..lol. So I think I got an imitator.
So,I planted the Avocado right in front of it..a Hass. I think the banana is good for its leafs in baking foods..I'm not knocking myself out for bunches though.
I've seen Avocado go as high as $3 each and stay at $1.50. Plus they taste great..no worry about Hass here.

Sometimes with bananas it's the fertilization. My grandmother's bananas were always excellent! Very sweet and a lot of flavor. She had 4 varieties of bananas, not sure what the varieties were, though.

I have Ice Cream bananas and they are excellent. The White Iholena bananas were never as sweet, though. All the other varieties, especially Mysore, which is my favorite ladyfinger banana is extremely sweet and delicious. It's hardy, also.

Luckily, avocados here have been pretty cheap this year. Sometimes 3 for a dollar.

Not the big Hass up here. I see bags of little ones at that rate.

The big has ones are usually are 69 cents, when on sale...most of the time they're $1.50/ea.

Rains yesterday,light rains today..and maybe next Monday and another light rains a few days after that. Coolish.
Its verdant green,creeks are running and no water rationing this year.
I took out the variegated Ficus in the front of the rental cottage. Its not as nice as the "Ruby" I have in a pot,and it never rooted in to the point it was like many ficus..happy with just some water. It would drop leaves fast if I let it go dry.
So,no need for 2 of the same thing and with one is not as nice looking to boot.
I have some potted small things to go around that area now.

It's dry as dry can be here. Today was pretty windy and cooler, only upper 60's. A huge difference from the 90's. Tomorrow the heat returns until Sunday. It's very strange for San Diego to have such drastic changes in weather this time of year.

Variegated Ficus has to fit a spot. Most people plant the burgundy colored leaf ones here. Now, at least you have room for more plants.