zone 7 plants in zone 4

At 10:00 AM 2/15/2000 -0600, you wrote:

>I've seen some Zone 5 and 6 plants thrive in 4, but I don't think I've seen
>any zoned for 7.
>(Kirengeshoma, Gaura, Eremurus, Kniphofia, Centranthus, and Incarvillea, for
>instance.)

I've grown all those plants you listed (and several species of most of
them) in my garden in USDA zone 4 for at least one winter. Also Arundo
donax and a few others that escape my imperfect memory. Consistent
overwintering outdoors depends on too many variables to guarantee constant
success (even with supposedly hardy plants ) ;-) but zone ratings are often
over rated anyway. If you want it - try to grow it.:-)

And, one of the members of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden Society actually
wintered a banana tree outdoors in Ottawa. The secret there was a "whole
bunch" of mulch and proper siting.

I note those two things will overwinter more plants than I'd care to
contemplate.  Mulch is easily done by all gardeners with a strong back.
Proper siting is experience, research, and/or good luck.

As one example, you might find that Kniphofia cultivars will actually
overwinter better in wetter ground than their South African origin would
lead us to expect. I have 7 or 8 species on trial this year - with the lack
of snow up to a week ago, I have no doubt that any that survive this year
I'll be able to call "hardy". :-)

I also note that overwintering things like Arisaema and tender plants is
relatively easily done with double hoop houses like Coleman uses. I have a
20 x 75 solar greenhouse and only put some heat in it (if needed) at the
end of March to guarantee no frost conditions for tender annual seedlings.
I overwinter all kinds of tender plants in it - from Lavender intermedia
cultivars (I have a Lavender collection in clay pots for the front doorway)
through quite a few species Arisaema and tender herbs.  Frost does
penetrate into the house but usually not enough to kill the tender perennials.

We used to use a similar system to Coleman's to overwinter potted
perennials when we were a commercial nursery.

Bottom line: There ainta no plant you canta grow if you really, really want
to. :-)

Doug
Doug Green,
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