I am interested in "tropicals" that I could try to overwinter in my zone 7a (really 6b) garden, like Musa Bajoo and Yucca Rostrata. Can you give me suggestions, or else point me to a thread or other source on that subject (I bet one exists, but I wasn't able to find it). Many thanks.
Tropicals that are hardy to zone 6b/7a
you might look in plams and cycads, hikaro is in a similar climate zone and mey be able to give you some pointers.
Thanks!
briansbotanicals.net
Happy, last yr. there was a Hikaro-takayama from Pa. that was growing tropicals hardy in , I would think z6. Im not good on com. but if you could locate him,Im sure he could name you a few.
Thank you! I located someone whose DG name is Hikaro_Takayama
from Greencastle, PA. That must be who you mean. I looke for threads that Hikaro_Takayama started, and now I have all sorts of leads (for example, see http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/649302/) . Many thanks!
I have been testing and breeding hardy tropicals for years.
My last count here in KY for hardy bananas is around 5 to 7 different forms and species
My current count is 4 to 6 hardy colocasias give or take more mulching.
Happy, thats the guy I was trying to tell you of. Glad you found him.
I have banana,brugs, shrimp plant and a few other things,all have to come in for winter.Im getting tired of the hassle,thats why I was interested in his results. dixie
'Yello? Somebody ring? Nice to know I'm famous around here ;)
Yes, I've been trying different tropical and tropical looking plants for a couple years now.... My hardy bananas are FINALLY starting to come up (for a while there I kinda thought they didn't make it), and all but one of my palms survived this past winter (two of the surviving palms lost all their leaves, though... The Trachycarpus takils, that is).
The best palms are the Needle palm (only leaf burn their first winter outside here, and I didn't protect them... THIS year, I'm wrapping all palms with landscaping fabric during the winter), and the Dwarf Palmetto (especially the Mc Curtain county form), with mixed results from some Trachycarpus wagnerianusxfurtunei hybrids... One only had about 40% leaf burn and the other is the dead one... and the one that got totally crisped got more sun, too....
In addition, it looks like ONE of the cannas I planted last year is coming up (I have no idea what variety it is, though), my hardy spider plant, a small roscoea cuatyloides and two of the Cordyline australis that I planted outside last year are also coming up, as well as the rice paper plant I got from Brian last fall.
All three of my Yucca recurvifolias made it are are starting to put on new growth already (including the one eaten down to the ground by rabbits), and my hardy orange is looking spectacular as well. Won't know for another few weeks if my Amorphophallus konjac or Musella lasiocarpa made it, though.
Ah, so you live on the edge! My problem with trying each year to see what makes it, is I get so heart-sick when plants die. I had a wonderful rosemary bush that died one winter many years ago when it got extra-cold and I didn't take any heroic measures. I loved its shape, and I still mourn it.
My trachycarpus wagneriun didn't make it but the Musoo Bajoo are coming back. I was successful in 2003 of overwintering my Majestic Palms by wrapping in insulation and then burlap and mulching the ground quite well. Last year I just pulled up the 5' and 6' ones and took them inside as I didn't want to temp the elements another winter. I also grow pineapples but do keep them in pots to take inside over winter.
There is a fellow in Ohio or Minnesota who writes books on overwintering palms and such in ultra cold climates. I'll try to find his name.
Here's a link to the wrapping in 2003
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/402471/
This message was edited May 23, 2007 2:41 PM
Thanks! Once I get all my co-op plants planted, and the weeds weeded, and the new beds dug, I'm going to focus on getting some hardy tropicals. Might be August at this rate!
Brian, how's your wall doing?
-Joe G.
Update: A few more of my Cordyline australis (Spikes) are coming up, and all 4 of my hardy bananas (Musa basjoo) are now accounted for.... My Musella lasiocarpa just popped up this week as well!
COOL!