Crazy for Crotons
Well-Known Member
- 2,050
- 29/06/09
- 8
- 78
The whole Ishi vs. Princess Eugenia thread made me think about croton names and what makes us buy or trade for yet another croton. As a group of collectors, is another new name really a sufficient reason to collect another plant? Even if you know there's something identical or very similar already in your collection? There was a time I'd collect anything with a new name. Many of you still do this. Space in the garden has thankfully forced me to be selective. Even now, I'll give away a plant that resembles something else too closely. In most cases, the same plant was purchased twice with 2 names. So, for example, do you purchase another "Kentucky" if it's labeled "Mother's Pride" or "Salty Tongue" at a sale? It doesn't look identical to your Kentucky but the growing conditions were a little different and makes the plant take on a slightly different appearance. Does the doubt overcome you? Do you go home with the same, renamed plant just because 'Mother's Pride" isn't already in your collection? What's more important, the plant itself or a new name?