Tropical Punch! Exotic Plants as Focal Points and Accents in Midwestern Gardens
 
 

University of Illinois Extension
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/tropicalpunch/

Some Tropical Plants to Consider

Croton

This extremely colorful shrub just says “tropical” when put into a garden. The large leathery leaves come in a variety of mixed colors in all kinds of patterns. Excellent as a containerized plant or worked in with flowering annuals. Best color is achieved in full sun. Croton likes moist, well-drained soils and can tolerate soils that tend toward the dry side. If transplanting into the ground, handle the root ball carefully as they resent a lot of root disturbance and may drop leaves. They also don’t like cold so they need to be moved indoors when temperatures get into the 50-degree range. They perform well as house plants over the winter if given high light.

 

 
   


 

Tropical Punch! was developed by Greg Stack, Extension Educuator, Horticulture, University of Illinois Extension, gstack@uiuc.edu

Gardening with Tropicals Tropical-looking Perennials Overwintering Directory of Plants