Zone pushing in the opposite direction

[happypalms]

When you think of zone pushing one often thinks of tropical plants in the cool climates. Well this little Pimelia  Nivea is from cold Tasmania growing in a subtropical climate with very hot summers. So anything is possible you just gotta try oh and be able to obtain such plants to start with is half the battle besides zone pushing. 

[Jonathan]

Steady on old chap...not so much of the cold shaming! 

But you're right, you don't see too much reverse zone pushing going on, particularly on palm talk. Pimelea grew wild in the bush near my childhood home in the hills above Hobart.  Cute little plants.

[Josue Diaz]

I am trying some stuff in a hot, dry climate that are not meant to grow here (not well, at least.) I've tried multiple times with Brugmansia sanguinea - the arborea types do just fine, but the sanguinea have the bold, deep reds, purples and orange colors not found in the arborea types. I managed to get one to live through summer, only for it to be devoured by white cabbage caterpillars in a short time and suddenly declined after that. I'm also growing deppea splendens, which on my current (third) attempt seems to have survived its first year. Shade and consistent water seems to be the key. 

This year, I also trialed Michelia doltsopa Xeronema & Tecomanthe dendrophila. Xeronema callistemon got a fungal infection and died as soon as we hit 100F. Michelia is alive, but really struggled - all of its leaves are crispy and although it actively grew all summer, each leaf looked dry and whispy, and they mostly fell off within days of unfurling. 

[Than]

9 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

I am trying some stuff in a hot, dry climate that are not meant to grow here (not well, at least.) I've tried multiple times with Brugmansia sanguinea - the arborea types do just fine, but the sanguinea have the bold, deep reds, purples and orange colors not found in the arborea types. I managed to get one to live through summer, only for it to be devoured by white cabbage caterpillars in a short time and suddenly declined after that. I'm also growing deppea splendens, which on my current (third) attempt seems to have survived its first year. Shade and consistent water seems to be the key. 

This year, I also trialed Michelia doltsopa Xeronema & Tecomanthe dendrophila. Xeronema callistemon got a fungal infection and died as soon as we hit 100F. Michelia is alive, but really struggled - all of its leaves are crispy and although it actively grew all summer, each leaf looked dry and whispy, and they mostly fell off within days of unfurling. 

Same here with my sanguineas. I had two and I lost both to caterpillars and spidermites. Too hot for them probably

[happypalms]

18 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Steady on old chap...not so much of the cold shaming! 

But you're right, you don't see too much reverse zone pushing going on, particularly on palm talk. Pimelea grew wild in the bush near my childhood home in the hills above Hobart.  Cute little plants.

Thought you might like that one. Now Iam after the Tasmanian pepper that will challenge the hot climate. Any thoughts on that one Jonathan. But yes zone pushing in the opposite direction is a new one not often talked about. But it certainly gives you growers in the dare I say cloud climate one advantage over the warm climate. Growing stuff we can’t grow. 

[happypalms]

10 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

I am trying some stuff in a hot, dry climate that are not meant to grow here (not well, at least.) I've tried multiple times with Brugmansia sanguinea - the arborea types do just fine, but the sanguinea have the bold, deep reds, purples and orange colors not found in the arborea types. I managed to get one to live through summer, only for it to be devoured by white cabbage caterpillars in a short time and suddenly declined after that. I'm also growing deppea splendens, which on my current (third) attempt seems to have survived its first year. Shade and consistent water seems to be the key. 

This year, I also trialed Michelia doltsopa Xeronema & Tecomanthe dendrophila. Xeronema callistemon got a fungal infection and died as soon as we hit 100F. Michelia is alive, but really struggled - all of its leaves are crispy and although it actively grew all summer, each leaf looked dry and whispy, and they mostly fell off within days of unfurling. 

Yes it’s an unusual approach to gardening when we always go for tropical in the cold. Brugmansia one spectacular plant well worth the challenge definitely one plant I would try growing. I have the standard yellow datura. You don’t see them for sale in Australia for obvious reasons just to dangerous of a plant in the wrong hands (or mind). There should be more cold climate plant enthusiasts in the warm areas setting new levels  of gardening such as yourself giving it a go. Here is a book you should try and get definitely one for the library.

[Jonathan]

4 hours ago, Than said:

Same here with my sanguineas. I had two and I lost both to caterpillars and spidermites. Too hot for them probably

They're literally a weed at my place, have started self seeding and spreading themselves around. I should probably be careful actually because nothing eats them, ie wallabies or rabbits, so they could get out of control pretty easily. They also grow back from any little bit of root left in the ground. 

I dug up a dozen seedlings to grow on, just in case any nice colour variations appear.

[Jonathan]

2 hours ago, happypalms said:

Thought you might like that one. Now Iam after the Tasmanian pepper that will challenge the hot climate. Any thoughts on that one Jonathan. But yes zone pushing in the opposite direction is a new one not often talked about. But it certainly gives you growers in the dare I say cloud climate one advantage over the warm climate. Growing stuff we can’t grow. 

Would you like me to send a couple up? You need a male and female - they're dioecious.