Re: Off T(r)opic
What happens to
> perennials when there is no winter, no seasons?
Hello from Southern California! True we have no snow here, but we do have
seasons. They are more subtle, i.e. there is the wet season and the dry
season, and though the temperatures dont range to the extreme as they do on
the East Coast, there is still a definite change in temperatures. Finally,
we have change in the length of the day and that has a tremendous impact on
perennials in particular. Spring and Fall are very much the same, so our
perennials get two major planting and growing seasons per year. In fact,
we are right smack in the middle of our best planting time right now. The
soil is still warm enough to stimulate root growth, and while there is not
as much leaf and stem growth as in spring, our wet season is nearly here.
Therefore, anything planted now will be well established by spring. On the
other hand, plants that go in in the springtime need to more water to
become established (water is at a premium) and have to survive the stress
of our hot summer while they are still young.
Back your question about what happens to perennials where there is no (or
little) winter -- they simply sit there looking pretty. Some perennials
die back completely, but most go into what appears to be a suspended
animation. We don't have to dig them out, cover them with mulch, bury them
in the compost pile or anything else, we simply enjoy the foliage. There
are even a few plants that bloom nearly year round.
You can try just about anything in the Virgin Islands, I expect, but I do
caution you to watch out for species that reseed freely so that you don't
bring in anything that becomes invasive or outcompetes the native
vegetation. I suggest you get a copy of Sunset Western Gardens. While not
a perfect book, it is about the best reference you can find on plants for
mild climates.
Any other questions? Just ask!
Nan
**********
'''''''''''''''''''''''
Nan Sterman
San Diego County California
Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
