Re: Hardiness of Several Subtropical Plants
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Hardiness of Several Subtropical Plants
- From: d* f*
- Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 23:16:42 -0700 (PDT)
I have several questions for anyone within the group
who may be growing one or more of the following
plants; I realize that none of these plants are
mediterranean, but can be grown here, giving a more
subtropical look.
Delostoma roseum: I received a plant from Steve
Brigham of Buena Creek Gardens in north San Diego Co.
a little over a year ago, and was wondering if anyone
can tell me how hardy this plant is? It will be
become a small tree with pink trumpet flowers, and
comes from the Andes of Ecuador(?). Is anyone growing
this plant in northern California or similar USDA zone
9b/10a, and can tell me if it will survive light
frosts? It has not gone through a cold winter in the
1 1/2 years I've had it, and is ready to be planted
out in the garden, but I am unsure if it should be
handled as a coddled specimen or can handle a cold
Berkeley, Calif. winter... Anyone with direct
experience growing this beautiful tree and advice
would be most appreciated.
Tecomanthe venusta and T. 'Roaring Meg': Is anyone
growing either of these flowering vines in a zone
9b/10a climate? I have recently seen T. venusta
growing and blooming in tropical Malaysia, but never
in California, and know that they can be grown in
south Florida, in zone 10b. Has anyone in the group
gotten either of these two vines to grow and bloom in
cooler conditions? I also have Tecomanthe speciosa in
my garden, which so far has not bloomed but is
perfectly hardy here, does anyone know how long this
one might take to bloom? The foliage and growth of
the vine is at times overwhelming, and the glossy
foliage is quite beautiful itself...
Heliconia bourgaeana, H. mathiasiae, H. schiediana: I
am currently growing these varieties of Heliconias in
containers, and they may or may not bloom this fall,
as have the H. spissa and H. latispatha in previous
falls. My question is, has anyone else gotten these
to bloom for them in similar climates? Any other
Heliconia species that have been good performers in a
coolish zone 9b/10a climate?
Tibouchina lepidota 'Alstonville': I came across this
variety of
Tibouchina listed in the 2000/2001 catalogue for
Kartuz Greenhouses, and it is listed as being a free
flowering small tree native to Columbia and Ecuador.
The hybrid 'Alstonville" was developed in Australia.
Again, has anyone grown this plant in zones 9b/10a?
Kartuz lists it as being hardy to 35F, which would be
marginally hardy in Berkeley/San Francisco. I
currently grow T. urvilleana, T. granulosa and T.
heteromalla, which will all tolerate our climate here
or regenerate from the roots, if several years old.
Unfortunately, T. granulosa is nowhere near as
spectacular here in northern California as T.
urvilleana, and it was a knockout tree in Sao Paulo
and Rio de Janeiro,Brazil, where it grew to be 40 feet
tall, with flowers literally covering the tree while
in bloom.
Tabebuia caraiba(argentea): Anyone growing this tree
in northern California? This tree is used alot in
Miami, Florida, but I have not seen it in California.
I recently saw it used as a street tree in Seville,
Spain, at the 1992 World Expo Site, where it appeared
to be doing well, and while not covered in bloom as in
south Florida, was blooming. I am not sure how cold
Seville can get in the winter, while I know that it is
much hotter than the San Francisco Bay Area in summer.
I am growing T. chrysantha and T. impetiginosa in
Berkeley, Calif. and both will survive our winters and
bloom, even if the bloom is not as heavy due to lack
of heat. (T. chrysantha survived 20F with no damage
in my garden in the 1990 freeze). Has anyone in the
group had experience with T. caraiba?
If anyone has any info to give me regarding any of
these plants, it would be most appreciated.
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