Steve Silberstein - Croton alabamensis

Croton alabamensis, commonly called Alabama croton, is a rare, semi-evergreen to deciduous, loose-rounded, thicket-forming, multi-stemmed shrub that is only found today in four central Alabama counties plus in three counties in Texas under the name of Croton alabamensis var. texensis with the common name of Texabama croton. It is a loose, open, semi-deciduous shrub, reaching around six feet in height with a spreading, mounding habit. The foliage is bright green above and silvery below, with the older leaves turning a showy pumpkin-orange in the fall. The foliage is also quite fragrant, described as resembling apples or bananas. In some milder climates, the foliage may remain on the plant with showy green to orange coloring. The foliage also allows the plant to survive in extremely dry conditions. The glistening silver scales of the leaf underside allows it to reflect sunlight which in turn reduces the plant's heat load. You would have a very hard time finding this shrub in a nursery. Why not add this rare specimen to your collection?" 1 gallon container