MONARCH.....Big,Bold and Beautiful

[Jeff Searle]

Monarch is probably one of the most beautiful, large leaf crotons to ever come along. This is a Henry Coppinger plant, but still to this day it's only found in collections, a plant here, and a plant there, and rarely seen planted in a private yard. It's one of my personal favorites. Here's one of my plants in the yard, and with my wife's hand for scale.

 

[Crazy for Crotons]

I'm bringing my loppers. Thanks Jeff.

 

[Phil Stager]

Its very slow growth rate is about the only difficulty with this one and also explains its scarcity.

 

[Phil Stager]

..and here's a pic taken tonight after 1" of rain. Plant is about 3 ft tall from an air layer about ten years ago. It also needs to be relocated to a better location - another project for next spring....

 

[Bullwinkle]

..and here's a pic taken tonight after 1" of rain. Plant is about 3 ft tall from an air layer about ten years ago. It also needs to be relocated to a better location - another project for next spring....

Wow,I have a little 1 gallon,I will be totally grey before this one gets anysize

 

[Jeff Searle]

Wow,I have a little 1 gallon,I will be totally grey before this one gets anysize

Hold on! Don't blame the plant....

My largest plant which is approx. 5' tall and 4-5' wide has been in the ground for 7 years now. Yes, this is a slow grower, but 3' of growth in 10 years is not normal. Phil, could the soil maybe be bad in that area, poor drainage, lots of roots from a close by tree, too many cold winters ? All of these examples can create problems for some crotons. I know, I've seen it in my own yard. Have you tried it in a different spot? Either way, Monarch is a gorgous croton worth having. I have several now planted around the yard.

 

[Jerry Shilling]

Hopefully I got this photo stuff figured out. My Monarch was a gift from Rob. It was terribly slow for a year or so and then just went nuts. Photos are from middle of July to present. Love this croton.

 

[Jeff Searle]

And I would agree Jerry, I can only imagine just how large the leaves are going to be in another year or two with your climate down there.

 

[Emmylou]

Hi Jeff, I have put Monarch on my wish list. What a beauty it is. I love the large leaf crotons and have Sybil Griffin and Mona Lisa which both have very large leaves. Marnie

 

[Borgy230]

wow look at the color

 

[Jerry Shilling]

I can't get over the growth on this guy. It's been non-stop ever since I got it in the ground about a year ago. Several new heads and it flowered since my last post. I thought I was safe planting it under a robellini. The plant is 3 1/2 ft. tall.

Fortunately, I had a Sybil Griffen ripe with pollen. Has anyone had any success with Monarch seeds?

 

[Moose]

I can't get over the growth on this guy. It's been non-stop ever since I got it in the ground about a year ago. Several new heads and it flowered since my last post. I thought I was safe planting it under a robellini. The plant is 3 1/2 ft. tall.

Fortunately, I had a Sybil Griffen ripe with pollen. Has anyone had any success with Monarch seeds?

I must defer to Chris (pocomo) - I had a male flower stalk that just kept budding new flowers for an extended period. Chris was harvesting the pollen - don't know if his crosses took?

Monarch - what an appropriate name, definitely could be considered "The King".