Croton Petra (Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra')
ko-dee-AY-um vair-ee-eh-GAY-tum 'Petra'
Evergreen Perennial
(usually grown as an annual near you)
Shrub in the Euphorbiaceae Family
Buy Croton Petra
Size
Notes
Price
Availability
A bold, variegated foliage shrub from tropical Asia and the Pacific, grown almost entirely for its leathery, glossy leaves - broad and oval-shaped on 'Petra', splashed with yellow, orange, pink, and red along the veins against dark green. An evergreen tropical hardy only in zone 10-11, it's grown as a houseplant or seasonal container accent in colder climates like Chicago. Flowers, when they appear, are small and insignificant.
Pros
Bold, colorful variegated foliage - yellow, orange, pink, and red on dark green
Long-lasting color without needing to flower
Tolerates full sun to partial shade; brighter light intensifies color
Striking thriller for mixed containers
Cons
Not winter hardy outdoors in Chicago (zone 10-11 only) - grow as a houseplant or bring indoors before frost
Sap is a skin and GI irritant; keep away from pets and children
Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, and scale, especially indoors
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Plant Data
Mature Size
24 - 48 inches
tall. 18 - 36 inches
wide.
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium
Zones
10a - 11b
(Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags
Annual in Chicago, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deer Resistant, Evergreen, Fall Annuals, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Insignificant Flowers, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Shrub, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tropical, Variegated Foliage
Bloom Period
Rarely Blooms
Flower Color
Insignificant
Foliage Color
Commonly Planted with...
Pairs well with other tropical container plants such as Colocasia, Coleus, or Canna for a bold foliage-driven combination.
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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About Ordering From The Plant Club
To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!