Download Tropical Gardening in Our Zone

Tropical Gardening in Our Zone
Marjorie Ernst and Linda Wilhelm
Master Gardener Training Program Class of 2013
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Setting the Stage
Tropical plants have moved
from being in a conservatory/
greenhouse environment
exclusively,
to containers brought
indoors during the winter,
to the use of more coldhardy cultivars that can
overwinter outside.
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Overview
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Know Your Plant Climate Zones
Consider other Factors Contributing to Microclimates
Check Authoritative Sources for Making Plant Selections
Conditions for Several Cold-Hardy Species
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Know Your Climate Plant Zones
We are in a transition zone between warm-weather and
cool-weather growing zones.
According to:
• USDA’s newly updated Plant Hardiness Zone map: We are in zone
7a, so the average annual extreme minimum temperature over the
30-year time period ending in 2005 fell between 0°F and 5°F.
• American Horticultural Society Plant heat zone map: We are on the
dividing line between zones 6 and 7. The average number of days
per year over 86°F is 46-60 for zone 6 and 61-90 for zone 7.
• Southern Living Garden Book: We are in the Middle South Climate
Zone, a zoning scheme that considers the summer heat and the
winter cold temperatures.
• USDA maintains the website www.plants.usda.gov for determining
plant species growth ranges.
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Other Factors Contributing to Microclimates
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Elevation
Topography
Prevailing winds
Sun exposure
Relative humidity
Nearby Structures
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Check authoritative sources for
making plant selections.
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Authoritative Source
UMD Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC)
fact sheet “Overwintering tropical plants” recommends a
range of plants and advice on how to rotate them indoors for
the winter.
– Red Banana Plants (Musa spp)
– Caladrums and elephant ears (Colocasia spp)
– Chinese hibiscuses (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
– Ficus Trees (Ficus spp)
– Mandevilla vines (Mandevilla spp)
– Palms (Livistona chinensis)
– Schefflera (Schefflera actinophylla)
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Authoritative Source
• US National Arboretum factsheet “Creating
and maintaining that tropical flair in your
garden” recommends using subtropical plants
that are more cold hardy
– Japanese ginger (Zingiber moiga)
– Butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium)
– Spiked ginger lily (Hedychium spicatum)
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Conditions and Cold Protection Strategies for
three Cold-Hardy Species
1. Chinese windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei )
---withstands temperature of 5° F or below if in a sheltered spot;
grows to 10 -20 feet high
---recommend growing in a container until well established
then place in well-drained soil that can retain moisture so can
work in our climate zone with protection
2. Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix)
---hardiest palm in the world; tolerates a wide range of soils;
reaches 6-8 feet; resistant to damage by deer
---known to survive to 0°F; sun or shade
3. Japanese banana (Musa Basjoo)
---hardiest of the banana plants; full sun or partial shade; needs
most fertile soil; grows to 15 feet w/leaves that are about 8 feet
long
---can withstand temps down to 18° F but needs winter protection
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Questions?
Thank You!
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