The "Grandma" scenario: The man who planted "Grandma" died in 1961, so it can surmised that this is an indeed old cultivar. Being such an old croton (hence the "temporary" naming of Grandma), I made air layers to preserve it's DNA. A definitive ID has not been made and may never be.
I have distributed many air layered plants. Numerous forum members currently have this plant in their collection due to that distribution. It was my intention to have it spread around diffent gardens around the state for preservation purposes.
Do I have the right to name this cultivar?

The name
"Grandma" is a temporary designation until some "experts" can get a look at this plant. This may take awhile, it may be three years before they see mature leaves on the distributed plants.
There are some photos of "Grandma", in another thread on this forum, in her original condition. However, she was growing in nearly pure sand and rocks and un-fertilized for many years. This photo may not be a good indication of her potential.
That being said, I feel that it may be appropriate to assign a temporary name to this cultivar. If we find that "Grandma" is in fact cultivar __________, it seems easier to get the word out that "Grandma" is __________. Calling it Unknown #19 in one collection and Unknown #106 in another adds to confusion in my opinion. People will remember temporary "names" better than numbers.
When we found out that Island Breeze was really a White Ann Rutherford, the name transition was done rather easily. No one had to remember if Unknown #19, 106, 69, 666, etc ... was now White Ann Rutherford.
Technically "unknown hybrid" is not a proper botanical naming since all crotons are the same species. When it comes to crotons, Marie Nock has suggested that someone who has intentionally crossed cultivars could say they have created a "hybrid". I agree with her on that.
The naming of "sports" I believe has traditionally been done by the discoverer and cultivator of the "sport".
Many of us collected and still do, other plants that have multiple species. That is why getting names is a practiced disipline and we are used to "tagging our plants". I like to know what my crotons are but am starting to let it go. If something looks interesting and unique, I will just grow it.
I recently got a green & yellow croton from Phil as an unknown. I put on my tag, Unknown from Phil, "Stagerii" so I know its history. "Stagerii" will stick in my brain. Phil sums up the croton naming issue quite well with his signature closing:
Onward through the fog... 