Crazy for Crotons
Well-Known Member
- 2,050
- 29/06/09
- 8
- 78
Jerry and Phil,
This is another plant that gets mislabeled very often. Perry and I thought it was Earl of Derby. Bob Alonzo said E. of D. was another name for Mrs. Fred Sanders. There went that theory.
At one time, I thought it was Philadelphia but it's not that either. Philadelphia is consistently an oak leaf with non variable leaves. The plant in the photos is undoubtedly oak leaf but the leaves have much variability. No two leaves have an identical form. The real distinguishing characteristic is that Philadelphia develops dark red leaf undersides when mature (like General Paget). The plant in the photos (if it's the same one I have) has green leaf undersides. No one has ever been able to establish an ID for this one but it's an old plant for sure. It's found quite frequently up here in the older neighborhoods.
Ana,
Ricky's photo of Mother and Daughter is better than mine. Use that one instead. I'd use the one with the little pink spots (left) as per Bob Alonzo, this is the real mother and daughter. The purely red and green form is the uglier throw away sister.
This is another plant that gets mislabeled very often. Perry and I thought it was Earl of Derby. Bob Alonzo said E. of D. was another name for Mrs. Fred Sanders. There went that theory.
At one time, I thought it was Philadelphia but it's not that either. Philadelphia is consistently an oak leaf with non variable leaves. The plant in the photos is undoubtedly oak leaf but the leaves have much variability. No two leaves have an identical form. The real distinguishing characteristic is that Philadelphia develops dark red leaf undersides when mature (like General Paget). The plant in the photos (if it's the same one I have) has green leaf undersides. No one has ever been able to establish an ID for this one but it's an old plant for sure. It's found quite frequently up here in the older neighborhoods.
Ana,
Ricky's photo of Mother and Daughter is better than mine. Use that one instead. I'd use the one with the little pink spots (left) as per Bob Alonzo, this is the real mother and daughter. The purely red and green form is the uglier throw away sister.