Comments on: How Do You Know If A Plant Is Hardy?

By: My Flower Delivery .ie

My Flower Delivery .ie — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:23:03 +0000

Great article,
I can’t agree more with you in terms of regional gardening.
I am from Ireland and know all about the winter months.
BTW, I love your first image of the flower in the snow

By: Melanie Watts

Melanie Watts — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:47:07 +0000

Soil has a lot more to do with plant survival than you would think. I killed lots of plants in my zone 2 garden, that survived in other zone 2 gardens, because of my clay soil.

By: Dirty Girl Gardening

Dirty Girl Gardening — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:53:28 +0000

Great snow pic… We don’t get snow where I garden, so it’s beautiful to see it.

By: A.R.Wadoo

A.R.Wadoo — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:02:36 +0000

Plant hardiness -is a burning issue in cold climate gardening. Geraniums have to be stored warm locations to tide over the winter months in zone 5.I experimented with geraniums for development of cold hardiness. I planted rooted geraniums in March 2008 in the garden bed under the canopy of a deodar tree. In April 2009 only 50% survived through the winter of 2008.The survivals had lush growth and profuse flowering during 2009 summer. All the plants have survived till to date with no sign of low temperature (Minus 5 Deg C) damage. The leaves have undergone reddish autumn hues.

By: brenna

brenna — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:08:47 +0000

We are in upstate NY. It is good to learn the information in this post. Thanks.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:07:34 +0000

Good article. thank you, I have learned something new.

By: Paul H.

Paul H. — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:10:40 +0000

I am very interested in pushing the limit with some plants as far as hardiness is concerned. Supposedly we’re getting warmer in CNY..the Arbor Day Foundation made a new hardiness map placing (most) of us here in zone 6. I know we’ve been having zone 6 winters recently. I’m currently overwintering outside a “hardy” Japanese fiber banana, some camellias, and a gladiola rated to zone 6. We’ll see how it goes. We have had freak incidents of canna lilies and dahlias surviving the winter outside, possibly due to their location in protected areas (we’re in Syracuse).

By: Amanda Legare

Amanda Legare — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:35:23 +0000

I in north central Vermont and am zone 4, leaning towards zone 3. Thirty below zero would be unpleasant, but not a huge surprise. Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ doesn’t stand a chance here, although I often see it listed as zone 3. Conversely, anemone pulsatilla, which is usually listed as zone 5, does fine here.

I am constantly experimenting as well and have yet to find a true yellow-leaved heuchera that will overwinter. The same goes for yellow/orange echinacea.

I agree about seeing what works for your neighbors. Best yet, if you have a local nursery that sells field-dug plants, then you know what you are getting will do well. It’s a lot of work, but I am one of those places that sells only “proven” plants. (No, I don’t do any mail order, so this is not an advertisement!) There are a number of similar nurseries in northern Vermont and it’s worth chatting with your local nursery owner.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:59:49 +0000

I can’t use what the nurseries stock as a guide because I am in a cold spot in my area. There are many gardens one and even two zones warmer nearby which can grow plants that would be killed by the cold at my place.

By: Cyndy

Cyndy — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:31:08 +0000

I grew some stipa tenuissima 3 years ago for a little annual accent and it’s still here looking cute in the winter in zone 5b Connecticut. I wonder if it’s starting from seed that helps – it’s not in a particularly sheltered spot. On the other hand, Artemisia ‘powis castle’ dies here if left outside, so now I dig it up and leave it in the unheated porch. I think it hates getting waterlogged more than the cold temperatures. It’s so true – you will kill plants