We love the fall foliage of the evergreen Southeast US (Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas) native, Croton alabamensis. This lanky, 5′ tall shrub is a member of the Euphorbia family. In early winter, it drops its summer, fruity-scented leaves, but not before they turn pumpkin orange. This has been considered by many botanists to be one of the rarest North American native shrubs. In the garden, it prefers light shade or morning sun, and well-drained soils. If you’re wondering about those crotons you grow as tropical house plants, well….they aren’t really crotons, at all. In fact, they are members of the genus, Codiaeum. To be fair, these house plants were initially published in error as Croton variegatum in 1753, but was changed in 1824. It’s only been 200 years since the name was corrected, yet we can’t seem to get any nurseries interested in tagging their plants correctly.
Rare in the wild, but why so rare in production? Sounds like a great plant.
It’s the classic case of the chicken and the egg. Nurseries won’t produce it because they fear the market will be too small, which it probably is.
Consumers don’t know it, because nurseries won’t produce it. Social media can change the game on any such plant. If enough people ask they favorite nurseries for plant x, the nurseries will find a way to offer it.
I believe I saw this in the gardens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX. Although they don’t operate a year-round retail nursery, I think they hold occasional plant sales. That might be a place for locals to look (since I don’t recall seeing it at any other retail nurseries when I lived in those parts).