Heliconia bihai cv Pink Peach cold hardiness

[clinton9]

Hi members,

I noticed my heliconia bihai cv Pink Peach were still alive despite 7 frosts and 4 nights of -1 oC below freezing point. See the photos.

My place is on latitude 37oS, in Thames, New Zealand.

At my place the average winter temperature: 8 oC and average lowest winter temperature: 3 oC, but had went below 0 oC, to -1 oC for 1-3 nights during June to July. 10 frosts a year and frost season: 10th June to 10th August. June to August are coldest wettest months, with June have 15 wet days and 3 frosts, July have 16 wet days and 4 frosts, August have 15 wet days and 2 frosts.

Heliconia bihai grew wild at elevation 1,600m at latitude 10 oN and in Puerto Rico at latitude 18 oN.

My cold hardy heliconia secunda had survived three past winters and in wild they grew at same latitude as h.bihai, but at higher elevation.

[clinton9]

These photos were photographed on 28th June 2015. I checked the soil and I realised I had mixed both pumice and compost several months ago, the soil were warm because of pine needles I had laid to keep soil warm.