Largest Leaf Croton ?

[Jeff Searle]

I'm still simply amazed everytime I walk by my Captain Gilbert Cutler croton for the size leaves it puts out. The plant itself is about 7' tall and just recently took some airlayers of of it. I think a close second for leaf size might be a good healthy Diane. Also, I have a Sybil Griffen ( was told it was a large form) that has produced some huge leaves like the Captain, just in a different shape.What other crotons have jumbo size leaves in your garden?


Jeff

[Crazy for Crotons]

A well grown Monarch has enormously long and wide leaves.

[fawnridge]

General Paget, Kentucky, Alley Cat, all have leaves over 12" long. Dreadlocks has thin leaves but they get 12" to 18" long.

[Phil Stager]

If we are going to get into a size contest, best to specify how the leaf was measured, i.e., with or without the stem. ...and what constitutes 'big' - total leaf area? in which case Diane is the winner in my yard with Col. Gilbert Cutler a second. Length of leave from tip to start of stem is 14" - then add another 3-6" for the steam. I may have to try a digital photo or two....

FWIW, the Thais consider our fascination with large leaves somewhat gross or tasteless.

Phil

[Phil Stager]

For tonight, a tape measure will have to do.

Croton Name (stem length + leaf length) x Maximum width inches

Cornbread (3 + 12) x 5.5
Col. G. Cutler (3 + 13) x 7
(3 + 14) x 8
(2 + 12) x 7.5
Tiffany (4 + 13) x 5
Davis # ? (3 + 15) x 6.3
Diane (6 + 14) x 7
Majesticum (2 + 22) x 3/4

Onward through the fog,

Phil

[Crazy for Crotons]

Phil, I'm thoroughly impressed. You left Sybil Griffin off the list.

[Phil Stager]

My Sybil - orginally from John Bender - does not have the massive leaves that I've seen on a few others - big, yes; but we're talking giant gilabo here.

[fawnridge]

Is this big enough? This is Big Red - 15" leaves, not counting the petiole (that's an 18" ruler):

[Crazy for Crotons]

Ricky, that looks like Captain Gilbert Cutler.

[Jim Glock]

We'll have some tears being shed after this weekend. Judy and I are headed to the Keys to harvest about 35 airlayers. I'll take out the ruler....I mean yardstick and measure a few of Judy's "giants". She has a couple that we use the leaves for surfboards when they drop. Jeff, I have seen your dwarf Areca by the pool....it must be something in your soil.

[fawnridge]

Take a look at the picture of Big Red on page 99.

[TikiRick]

Why are all you Americans all about size?
Okay, I'll jump in!

What about putting the croton in shade to stretch it....is this deemed illegal by the International Olympic Croton Committee?

[Phil Stager]

Took a look at Big Red in the book and at my Col GCs. I'd vote for a high confidence level in Col GC for the one in the pic. This croton does wierd things in different light conditions. Got to remind myself that naming crotons from a pic is more art than science.
onward through the fog,

[Jim Glock]

In keeping with Phil's method here are some from the Keys:
Dreadlocks (4+25 1/2) x 1 1/2
Col Gil Cuttler (3 1/2+14 3/4) x 7
Commotion (3 1/2+15) x 7 1/2
Sybil Grif (3+17) x 8
Davis Hy (3 1/2+17) x 7
Rheedii #3 (2 1/2+15) x 7 1/4
Magesticum (3+26) x 1
Frank Brown (6+15) x 8
Glen Roof (2+13 1/2) x 2 1/2

[Crazy for Crotons]

How about a photo of Commotion Jim?

[Jeff Searle]

And the Sybil Griffen!

[Jim Glock]

These are recent pictures of the Commotion leaf and the leaf from Sybil where we took our measurments.

I know that the Commotion followed us home from the D.R. several years ago.

[Jeff Searle]

Good lord, I know those leggs!!

Oh, and the crotons are pretty nice too.


Jeff

[Crazy for Crotons]

Wow, it looks like Commotion should follow me home from your place Jim.

[Moose]

Final answer???

[koki]

Today I was relaxing in my yard next to my sybil and rafeal, wondering if one of these years I'd be a liquid fertilizer guy, and what my crotons might look like.
It leads me to the question, have those plants received liquid fertilizer?
(Sorry to be slightly off subject, just when the anticipation was building.)

[Borgy230]

My commotion is finally starting to look like the glocks.

[Moose]

I just got a Commotion just back awhile. This has given me a huge push to get it in the ground!

[Scott Mcintosh]

I have (had) a Stoplight that has 3" leaf stem/14" leaf length. I say had because after the winter it returned with all large dark purple leaves and no longer looks like Stoplight.

[Scott Mcintosh]

I have (had) a Stoplight that has 3" leaf stem/14" leaf length. I say had because after the winter it returned with all large dark purple leaves and no longer looks like Stoplight.

[irene_kingsley]

woah! That was stunning... What is this competition(?) about? hahaa...

[Jeff Searle]

Here's my Sybil Griffen, that gets enormous leaves.

[Crazy for Crotons]

The largest leaves I ever saw on a croton was during the 2004 Hawaiian Biennial. Waimea Falls park had a Monarch with 24" long leaves that were 4-5" across.

[fawnridge]

Davis #3 - 20-1/2" long and Majesticum - 18"

[Borgy230]

Ray, I think that Monarch is now in Jeff's Yard,
Take a pic Searle!

[Moose]

Ray, I think that Monarch is now in Jeff's Yard,
Take a pic Searle!

And then post the pic ...

LOL Moose

[Moose]

I confess, I suffer from Big Leaf Envy.

Jeff, its almost a year. Can we finally get a photo of your Monarch ?

Did you train Ryan ?

I guess size does matter.

[Scott Mcintosh]

Diane is the largest leaf Croton in my garden now. 13"x6.5" with a 4" leaf stem. This is a Air layer from Ray last fall.

[Moose]

Not a monster leaf but pretty respectable for a Thomas Edison in my opinion. Photo is shot through the fence by my son James. 14 inches is not exactly small though.

[Scott Mcintosh]

Here is another one becoming a giant leaf plant.

[pocomo]

Here's one of the Davis plants. Not huge but 13" and about half that across.

[Scott Mcintosh]

3" leaf stem, leaf 15.5" x 7"

[Crotonologist]

Surely this 'Red Dragon' in Indonesia (photo by Sergey) must be a contender for the largest leaf croton...
http://www.palmpedia.net/forum/showt...ght=red+dragon
Sergey said the leaf was 20 cm (8 inches) wide and as long as his arm from shoulder to fingertips...
I don't know how long Sergey's arms are, but mine measures 32 inches (81 cm)...
My wife says I'm part monkey

[Moose]

A couple of shots of Diane taken this evening ...

[bahadawn]

Here's the largest croton leaf in my yard - 14 inches, not including stem. It's Charles Rutherford, obtained from Jeff Searle's a couple of months ago. It's starting to leaf out very nicely!