Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Funny how your tastes change, 1 by DaleTheGardener

DaleTheGardener wrote:
ardesia,

I use sunset nat'l garden book for my reference. They have the US divided up into 45 zones. I think you are in zone 31 (lower elevation SC) and sunset says you can go it, but would be a challenge. If you are off shore and the ocean keeps you temps up in summer it wouldn't do well.

Gunnera is from the west coast of S.America (Chile) it is very cool there all the time, but, night time temps are the real factor. If you live in a low area, like a river valley where cool air pools in summer you might have success. I once lived on the lower Colorado River east of Austin, TX and my night time temps were always in the low 60's after the sun went down in summer. If I went into town, only about 60' higher, the night temps were in the mid 70's. I had wild columbine growing in my front lawn that was not listed in any book of texas wildflowers. It was small about 3" tall in many shades of blue. Tried it in friends yards and it never came up.