Here we go again...another unseasonally cold winter with one cold front after another. Two new plants added to my garden this year were surprisingly cold-hardy in our recent low temps in the upper 20's: Abutilon (Flowering Maple) and leopard plant.
Joe Parr, Director of Horticulture at Busch Gardens discovered our cold-hardy plant list, and added a few more plants to the list we all created last winter: Blue Victoria salvia and citrona. He also mentioned that his established gingers fared much better than newly planted ones. This may be a clue for us to get sub-tropical plants in the ground early enough for them to become well established before winter arrives.
If you've got new plants in your garden that fared well this winter, please add them to our cold-hardy plant list. And again, many thanks to all of YOU who created this list. I have referred to it many times this past year when adding plants to my garden.
The flowering maple was a big surprise to me. The one I have is a little different from yours in that the flowers don't ever open all the way. It did get yellow leaves that dropped after the last freeze we had in Dec. but it put out new leaves all along the stem. Of course, we've had another freeze now so I'll be eager to see how it does in the long run. But so far, it is not brown and still has flowers.
ReplyDeleteI really like that leopard plant!
That was a fun collaboration, and to think its already been a whole year since we put that list together. Thanks you! :)
ReplyDeleteLet me just say my Abutilon 'Fairy Coral Red' by Athens Select is still green, I'm in Tallahassee and you know it's been cold here. I was so surprised, now I want more of them. Saw them in pink too.
ReplyDeleteHi NanaK...I was surprised by the flowering maple, too. Since it's in the hibiscus family I thought for sure it would freeze. It's located behind a grouping of 4 red fountain grass, but otherwise it is wide open to frost. There must be different varieties.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve...It was fun to see how many plants were really cold hardy...a real group effort.
Hey Darla...Wow, as far north as Tallahassee, and your abutilon is still green. There must be different varieties...some more cold-hardy than others. I agree with you, I'm going to add somemore to the garden, too. Yours sounds like a pretty color.
I can definitely bare witness to the fact that newly planted gingers are not cold hardy. Although my established gingers did well through the cold last year, my newly planted divisions suffered this year. I'm hopingthey will come up from the ground.
ReplyDeleteDont know if anyone has mentioned this one yet but Laelia anceps has done well for me in Ocala with no protection!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great resource! When I get back to planting, I am going to check your cold hardy plant list! I award you the Stylish Blog Award! You can check it out on this post:
ReplyDeletehttp://jlsgrant.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/stylish-blogger-award/
To throw in 2 cents worth....Our "established" gingers froze to the ground last year and they were COVERED! This year, the new growth from those same ginger plants have survived very well...uncovered. I think it's one of those....it is what is is, depending on one's own little micro-micro climate.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, thanks to all of you who have compiled this list! With spring cleanup and new planting around the corner, this will be very handy to take to the nursery.
Hi Kimberly...Sorry to hear about your gingers. I do hope they make a return appearance in your garden.
ReplyDeletem.krishna...Wow, I'm going to have to find one of these orchids. Ocala always seems to have the lowest temp around, too. We have 2 cymbidium orchids we left outside last winter and this winter...with no ill effects. Unfortunately, these plants must have been grown in California because it has been impossible to get them to rebloom.
jlsgrant...thank you for including us in your list, however, I must pass on the requirements for reciprocating.
Hi Dave...Thanks for your two cents. Anything new we can learn to keep our plants going in the cold weather is helpful. I will include your Florida blog in my next update and on the sidebar.
my tropical yellow hibiscus survived the best here in st.cloud. i was actually shocked that it put out blossoms in late february. my double red hibiscus just a few feet away, however, dropped all leaves and is now undergoing rapid regrowth.
ReplyDeleteReally a beautifull website
ReplyDeleteHiii
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