Mammy Croton Flowers

Looks great. I've given up on them. Winters are just too long for them in the bay area even if frost free. Sure look great all summer,then the long decline...

We're used to seeing them as indoor plants.

I'd never seen flowers on these plants before! as Ange says, here in the UK they can only live indoors as the cold of winter (& possibly autumn & spring as well!) would kill them.

Stan,

Thanks! I can’t believe how large it’s gotten this year. This is even with the insane cooler than normal winter and spring and Tropical Storm Hilary in August. Summer wasn’t even that hot, either.

Ange2; Balcony:

Yes, it’s widely used as a houseplant. But, here it would be a challenge because it would be full of spider mites constantly. It’s a pain even outdoors to keep spider mites off this plant. I was surprised to see flowers, though. My Oakleaf or Angel Wing croton in the front yard has been flowering off-and-on for 14 years (since I purchased it).

And your all correct, crotons despise cold or even protracted cool weather! My climate is mild subtropical or zone 11a (bordering on 10b). All San Diego urban areas are in zone 11a now (excluding canyons).

Aphelandra is closest in looks here. But they are very thirsty plants that have zero dry tolerance. Mine is about 2 foot tall...shorter than I would have thought by this time. Looks exotic as heck though-lol.

That’s pretty impressive to have Aphelandra growing in Hayward. Aphelandra squarrosa typically only grows to about 3 ft, right?

I've heard of up to 5' in tropical climates. In past years I've grown them in pots on my porch where they thrived for years. Both just upped and died fast at about the five year mark. This one outdoors is now nearly that age but still looks good in the ground. It should be blooming soon also. They would look even better in a group. A well watered group.

I’ve seen Aphelandra sinclairiana more than 5 ft tall at
Lyon Botanical Gardens in Honolulu, HI. But, the A. squarrosa weren’t that tall.