Cold-Hardy Plants List
A BIG thank you to all of you who participated by submitting the lists of “survivors” in your yards. Our list of cold-hardy plants range from Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale, and from gardeners on both the east and west coasts.
In compiling the list, here‘s what I‘ve done:
#1 - The majority of the plants listed are the most cold-hardy for the central part of the state. However, some of the plants you'll see listed under "tropicals" may have done well for some gardeners due to micro-climates -example: under trees, up against homes, near water, etc.
#2 - The plants are listed by category - from annuals to vines
#3 - Each plant is linked to a Floridata Plant Profile page that contains more information about it (there are a few exceptions). NOTE: A BIG thank you to Jack at Floridata for graciously granting his permission to allow me to do this. The ’plant profiles’ provide a bounty of information. Watch for an upcoming post on Floridata - an invaluable website for Florida gardeners.
#4 - All native plants have an asterisk * behind the name.
#5 - The county or town of the person who reported the plants/trees is listed beside each plant. I was going to report each person’s name, but settled for town and county in an effort to save space.
All the generous Florida gardeners that took the time to submit their ‘survivors’ are listed at the end of this post. Again, thank you to each and everyone of you for taking the time to send me your lists (and, if I’ve neglected to list someone, please let me know and I’ll make the correction a.s.a.p.). If you haven’t submitted a list but want to, it’s not too late. Leave a comment on this post, and I’ll add your plants to the list.
The list turned out GREAT! I’ve been gardening for a long time in Florida, and I was surprised at how many wonderful cold-hardy choices we have, especially when it comes to perennials...43...can you believe it? Altogther, there are a total of 150 plants in 16 different categories. I have a feeling we'll all be busy adding new plants to our gardens this spring.
Now, here's the list:
Annuals/Biannuals (6)
Alyssum 'Lobularia maritima' (N.Hillsboro)
Dianthus 'D. barbatus' (Polk)
Dusty Miller 'Senecio cineraria' (Orlando)
Pansy and Viola ' Viola x Wittrockiana' (Orlando, NW Hillsboro)
Petunia 'Petunia x hybrida' (Orlando)
Phlox 'Phlox drummondii' (Orlando)
Bamboo (1)
Multiplex Fern Leaf ' Bambusa multiplex' (South Tampa)
Cycads and Palms (10)
Everglades* 'Acoelorrhaphe wrightii' (Jax)
Hardy Bamboo palm 'Chamaedorea microspadix' (Jax)
Needle* 'Rhapidophyllum hystrix' (S.Hillsboro)
Pindo 'Butia capitata' (Lake, Polk)
Ponytail 'Beaucarnea recurvata' (Treasure Coast)
Queen 'Syagrus romanzoffiana' (Polk)
Rhapis Lady 'Rhapis excelsa' (S.Hillsboro)
Sago 'Cycas revoluta' (Lake, Polk)
Saw Palmetto ' Serenoa repens' (S.Hillsboro)
Stemless Cluster Palm 'Chamaedorea radicalis' (Jax)
Ferns (3)
Bird’s Nest 'Asplenium nidus' (Polk)
Holly 'Cyrtomium falcatum '(Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Rabbits Foot 'Davallia trichomanoides' (Polk, NW Hillsboro)
Fruit (10)
Blackberries 'Rubus fruticosus' (Lake)
Blueberries 'Vaccinium ashei' (Lake)
Fig 'Ficus carica' (Polk)
Loquat 'Eriobotrya japonica' (Jax)
Orange 'Citrus sinensis' (Lake, Polk)
Meyers Lemon 'Citrus meyeri' (Lake, NW Hillsboro)
Peaches (P olk)
Plums (Lake)
Ponderosa Lemon 'C.limon ×C.medica' (Treasure Coast)
Pineapple Guava ‘Feijoa sellowiana’ (Jax, Lake, Orlando)
Grasses (4)
Blue-eyed*'Sisyrinchium angustifolium' (N.Hillsboro)
Gamma *'Tripsacum dactyloides' (N.Hillsboro)
Juncus 'Juncus effusus' (N.Hillsboro, South Tampa)
Muhly 'Muhlenbergia lindheimeri' (N.Hillsboro)
Groundcovers (7)
Ajuga 'Ajuga reptans' (Lake, Polk)
Amazon Lilies 'Eucharis grandiflora' (Orlando)
Cast-iron 'Aspidistra elatior'(Lake, Polk)
Coontie *'Zamia pumila' (Lake,N.Hillsboro, Polk)
Gold Mound Sedum (Lake, N.Hillsboro)
Liriope 'Liriope muscari' Various varieties (Jax, N.Hillsboro)
Purple Queen 'Tradescantia pallida' '(N.Hillsboro)
Herbs (6)
Allium ‘alba’(N.Hillsboro)
Chocolate Mint (N.Hillsboro)
Oregano (N.Hillsboro)
Parsley (Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Rosemary (Lake, N.Hillsboro, S.Tampa)
Spearmint (N.Hillsboro)
Perennials (43)
African Bush Daisy 'Gamolepis chrysanthemoides' (Polk)
African Iris 'Dietes iridioides' (Lake, N.Hillsboro, Polk)
Agapanthus 'Agapanthus spp.' (Lake, N.Hillsboro, Polk)
Agastache Black Adder (N.Hillsboro)
Beautyberry* 'Callicarpa americana' (Lake)
Belladonna Lilies (Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Black and Blue Salvia 'Salvia guaranitica' (N.Hillsboro)
Blackberry Lily (Polk)
Blue Sage 'Eranthemum nervosum' (Lake, Polk)
Brazilian Iris 'Neomarica caerulea' (Lake)
Brazilian Plume 'Justicia spp.' (Lake)
Bulbine 'Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' (Lake, N.Hillsboro, NW Hillsborough)
Candy Lily (N.Hillsboro)
Coral Bean* 'Erythrina herbacea' (N.Hillsboro)
Coral Reef Sedum 'Sedum tetractinum 'Coral Reef' (N.Hillsboro)
Crocosmia 'Crocosmia X crocosmiiflora' (Melbourne)
Daylilies 'Hemerocallis hybrids' (Treasure Coast, Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Echinacea 'Echinacea purpurea' (Treasure Coast)
Fariy Fan Flower ‘Scaevola aemula’ (NW Hillsboro)
False Blue Ginger 'Dichorisandra thyrsiflora' (N.Hillsboro)
Flag Iris* 'Iris pseudacorus' (Lake, Polk)
Flax Lily 'Dianella tasmanica varigata' (Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Gaura 'Gaura lindheimeri' (Lake, NW Hillsboro)
Goldenrod* 'Chrysoma pauciflosculosa' (N.Hillsboro)
Horsemint* 'Monarda punctata' (Melbourne)
Hurricane Lilies ' Lycoris radiata' (N.Hillsboro)
Indian Blanket* 'Gaillardia pulchella' (Polk, N.Hillsboro, NW Hillsboro)
Lamb’s Ear ‘Stachys byzantina’ (Polk)
Louisiana Iris 'Iris Louisiana hybrids' (N.Hillsboro)
Mexican Petunia 'Ruellia brittoniana (N.Hillsboro)
Mystic Spires Salvia 'Salvia Mystic Spires Blue' (Lake, N.Hillsboro)
Orange Bird of Paradise 'Strelitzia reginae’ (Polk, Melbourne)
Pineapple Sage 'Salvia elegans' (Lake)
Plumbago 'Plumbago auriculata' (N.Hillsboro)
Rain Lilies 'Zephyranthes grandiflora' (Lake, N.Hillsboro, Polk)
Red Shrimp 'Justicia brandegeana' (South Tampa, Melbourne)
Scabiosa ‘Scabiosa columbaria’(Orlando)
Society Garlic 'Tulbaghia violacea' (Polk, Lake)
St. Bernard’s Lily 'Anthericum liliago' (Lake)
Stoke’s Aster* ‘Stokesia laevis’ (Orlando)
Verbena 'verbena bonariensis' (N.Hillsboro)
Walking Iris 'Neomarica candida' (Polk, N.Hillsboro, S. Tampa)
Yarrow 'Achillea millefolium' (Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Shrubs: Flowering (17)
Azaleas 'Rhododendron spp.' (Lake, N.Hillsboro, Polk)
Camellias 'Camellia japonica' (Lake, Polk)
Butterfly Cassia 'Senna pendula' (Polk, NW Hillsboro)
Gardenia 'Gardenia augusta' (Polk)
Hydrangea 'Hydrangea paniculata' (Polk)
Lorapetlum 'Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum' (Polk, NW Hillsboro)
Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Hydrangea quercifolia' (Lake, N.Hillsboro)
Oleander 'Nerium oleander' (Orlando)
Orange Jasmine 'Murraya paniculata' (Treasure Coast)
Pagoda Clerodendron ' Clerodendrum paniculatum' (NW Hillsboro)
Pinwheel Jasmine 'Tabernaemontana' (NW Hillsboro)
Rose of Sharon or Althea ‘Hibiscus syriacus’ (Polk)
Roses (including Knock-out) (Lake, Treasure Coast, NW Hillsboro)
Roses - Antique (Lake, Polk)
Simpson's Stopper 'Myrcianthes fragrans' (Lake, Melbourne)
Star Jasmine 'Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Star'' (Treasure Coast)
Thryallis 'Galphimia glauca' (Polk, NW Hillsboro)
Shrubs: Non-Flowering (12)
Anise* 'Illicium parviflorum' (Orlando)
Eugenia (Treasure Coast)
Hollies - various 'ilex' (Jax, Polk, Orlando)
Indian Hawthorne ' Rhaphiolepis indica' (Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Ligature (N.Hillsboro)
Nandina or Heavenly bamboo 'Nandina domestica' '(Lake, Polk)
Pittosporum 'Pittosporum tobira' (Lake, Polk)
Viburnum* 'Viburnum obovatum' (S. Tampa)
Viburnum ‘V. suspensum’ and ‘V. odoratissimum’ (Polk)
Viburnum - Mrs. Schiller's Delight ‘dwarf’ (Polk)
Walters Viburnum ‘Withlacoochee’ (N.Hillsboro)
Wild coffee* 'Psychotria nervosa' (Lake, Melbourne)
Succulents (3)
Aloe Vera 'Aloe vera' (Lake, Polk)
Various succulents (including flapjack) (NW Hillsboro)
Zebra Aloe 'Aloe maculata' (Polk, NW Hillsboro)
Trees (5)
Bottlebrush (stiff) ‘Callistemon rigid’ (Lake, Polk)
Bottlebrush (weeping) ‘Callistemon viminalis‘ (Jax, Polk, NW Hillsboro, Treasure Coast)
Giant Yucca ' Yucca elephantipes' (Jax)
Magnolia Grandiflora 'Magnolia grandiflora' (Polk)
Yellow Tabebuia 'Tabebuia chrysantha' (Lake, Polk)
Tropical Plants (9)
Arboricola Variegata 'Schefflera arboricola "Trinette" (N.Hillsboro, NW Hillsboro)
Bromeliads -Neoregelia (Lake, N.Hillsboro, S. Tampa, Polk)
Butterfly Ginger 'Hedychium coronarium' (N.Hillsboro)
Butterfly Orchids ' Encyclia tampensis' (N.Hillsboro)
Cordyline Chocolate Queen 'Cordyline terminalis' (N.Hillsboro)
Cordyline Red Sensation ’australis’ (Jax-some damage, N.Hillsboro)
Peace Lily 'Spathiphyllum spp' (N.Hillsboro)
Shell Gingers ' Alpinia zerumbet' '(N.Hillsboro)
Philodendron 'Philodendron bipinnatifidum' (Jax, Lake)
Vegetables (5)
Broccoli (Polk, N.Hillsboro)
Collard Greens (Polk)
Lettuces (N.Hillsboro)
Pumpkin (Tampa)
Spinach (N.Hillsboro)
Vines (8)
Asiatic Jasmine 'Trachelospermum asiaticum' (N.Hillsboro)
Bleeding Heart 'Clerodendrum thomsoniae' (NW Hillsboro)
Confederate Jasmine ' Trachelospermum asiaticum' (Polk, N.Hillsboro, Melbourne, NW Hillsboro)
English Ivy 'Hedera helix' (N.Hillsboro)
Honeysuckle 'Lonicera japonica' (Lake, Melbourne, Treasure Coast)
Pandora 'Pandorea pandorana' (Lake, NW Hillsboro)
Sweet Pea 'Lathyrus odoratus ' (Orlando, Polk)
Yellow Carolina Jasmine or Jessamine* 'Gelsemium sempervirens' (N.Hillsboro, Treasure Coast)
* Native to Florida
Click here for Printable List
Ami in Ft.Lauderdale (zone10) reported her list of plants that weathered the lower than normal temperatures a wee bit further south than the gardeners here in the central part of the state. Some of these did well here, while others experienced some damage.
Gardenia
Jasmine
Bulbine
Sedum
Agapathus
Hisbiscus
Bromeliads (Aechmea blanchetiana 'Orangeade' , Neos)
Roses
Pentas
Diamond Frost
Red Fountain Grass
dipladenia pink
Jatropha Tree
African Iris (fortnight lily)
Yellow African Iris (Nile of lily)
Vinca
Purple Queen
Golden Shrimp
geranium
Contributors:
Ami (Ft. Lauderdale)
Betsy (Melbourne)
Florida Girl (Polk)
Kimberly (Treasure Coast)
Meems (N. Hillsborough)
NanaK (S. Tampa)
Penny (N.W. Hillsborough)
Patti (Lake)
Rainforest Gardener (Jacksonville)
Susan (Polk)
Thanks for taking the time to compile this list. It will make justifying my "garden owner's" loan at the bank so much easier. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for making this list. And thanks to all the contributors who made it possible, It will come in so handy this spring you can't imagine----but then, yes you can. You are gardener's. My favorite kind of people.
ReplyDeleteThis list is officially added to my garden resources...what an amazing list of plants from real experiences! Bravo for your tremendous effort!!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNanaK...We're going to need a loan from the bank to get our yards back in shape this spring. It's going to be costly, but think of all the fun...
ReplyDeleteSusan...Welcome and thanks for leaving a comment. Gardeners are my favorite kind of people to. They are so generous and this list proves it. I hope you'll continue to chime in with your comments in the future.
Kimberly...It really is a great resource. I think I'm gonna print it and keep it in my purse, so I'll have it when I visit a nursery. Thanks again to all who participated, and hopefully, a few more will, too.
STUPENDOUS! What a terrific resource you've created!
ReplyDeleteI had been thinking, "That extended freeze was a fluke, no reason to give up on all my old favorites." But now I'm convinced there's very good reason to give up on some -- those in important spots, like covering the side of the rusty shed. (Blue sky vine. It'll take me a year to cut it all down.) The Carolina Jessamine is blooming now and she'll be my new shed babe.
The Floridata links were a stroke of genius and much appreciated!
(Fyi, Meems is N. Hillsborough, which is was hit lots harder than S. Hillsborough.)
Many, many thanks, Susan
Penlyn...Thank you. Glad you like it. It does remind us that we have "other" options. Going with the Carolina Jessamine is a great idea. Even though the sky vine is very pretty, it will be a job to trim it back. And, thanks for letting me know I got Meems location wrong. I'll change that a.s.a.p.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog and thanks for the wonderful coordination. This information is invaluable and now has a special spot in my Garden favorites.
It appears my passion flower vine (yellow fruit) survived along with new caterpillars that constinue to consume the new foliage. Butterflys to follow but would love to the vine recover from these hungry 'pillars. Any thoughts?
Murray Craig/Longwood
Great list! A lot of the plants listed also did well in jacksonville, even though I didn't have any out in my own garden. I think that this has great potential for a collaboration between bloggers to eventually make a definitive list, showing the temperature range for each plant. Maybe all of us should get some good thermometers so next year we can get an idea for how hardy they are! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd had access to a list like this 12 years ago before I planted all these tender plants.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of brown in my yard right now. I'm not looking forward to the spring clean up.
Murray...Hi and welcome. I'm glad you're finding the list helpful. And, I will be sure to add the passion flower vine to the list. I'm surprised to hear the caterpillars are consuming your vine. You must have a lot of them. Generally, this plant is a prolific grower, and it tends to run underground and produce new plants nearby. I'm not sure what you can do to help out your vine..short of spraying it (which I'm sure you don't want to do) or planting a few more.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone else has some helpful tips for Murray, please leave your comment.
Rainforest Gardener...I think your idea is great, and I'm surprised to hear that many of the plants that survived here also made it as far north as Jacksonville. It must be your coastal location. Okay, everybody...buy yourself a good thermometer for next winter...although, I must say that it is my hope that next winter won't be this cold. :-)
SFaith...Glad to find another Florida gardener. I want to add your site...which has lots of info...to my sidebar. What area are you located in?
Hi Susan~
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful and informative list this is! Thank you! I am definitely going to print this up for my own gardening resource.
~Karrita
Susan,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time I know it had to take to put this together. It is a great resource I will refer to often. It's always so good to hear from fellow gardeners and to pull together to lend a helping hand.
Kudos to you for all your hard work and for taking an interest in the community of gardeners here in C. FL.
Meems
Hi There,
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any thoughts as to if my Cacao tree will recover. It lost all but one leaf in the freeze we had about 3-4 weeks ago. I was away on business and couldn't protect it. I still have a green cambium layer and my fingers are crossed. All my bonsai bougies seem to be fine.
Rees