Tropical Gardens with Hardy Plants - General Tiki

P Polly_Nesia Member California Joined: Jul 21, 2008 Posts: 77	P Polly_Nesia Posted posted on Fri, Jun 10, 2016 7:01 PM Not sure how much to post that would be helpful but I'll throw out another website, this from a SoCal grower, who I spent a lot of time on their website early on. Great photos and articles. The owner is a former president of the Palm Society of Southern California. Do check out the pictorial presentation on lush and tropical plants on the site for ideas on how to bring color into your landscaping. And of course don't forget planning for your tiki and garden satutes amid your plants. LED low-voltage lighting is available in many price ranges to accent your pieces. http://www.junglemusic.net/?fullweb=1 With southern California having mountains, ocean and inland areas, numerous growing regions are represented, and one can find relevant palm selections at these southern nurseries even for those of us living further north in colder zones. The palms in our landscaping, including the Mule palms pictured above, all came from a palm nursery in the SF South Bay area: http://www.alltropicalpalms.com ; but you'll find palm nurseries in both northern and southern California and they'll be able to help you with what grows best in your particular area. The temps in my area have run from 113F tops one year to 25F a few years back. Wanting low maintenance, we planted palms for our Zone (pinnate and fan for variety) but added less cold tolerant birds of paradise and SunPatiens, for a tropical feel for example, that need frost cover protection when we get to a certain point. A pain, but so worth seeing flowering plants once the temps warm up. Some gardeners like to push zones and can be successful but it will be more work and you can plan your landscaping with overhead canopy to help in that regard. For newbies I'd recommend you learn your USDA zone and your Sunset Magazine zone to aid in selecting appropriate plants. Sunset Magazine zones are more area specific taking into account rainfall, elevation, ocean influence, etc. Your specific temps/frost likelihood will also be influenced by elements like canopy, structures and elevation dips. Walls will help retain heat, terrain dips will channel cold air to the lowest spots. BTW many palms can handle a more clay environment so don't let that deter you from looking. [ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-06-10 19:05 ] [ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-06-10 20:34 ]

Not sure how much to post that would be helpful but I'll throw out another website, this from a SoCal grower, who I spent a lot of time on their website early on. Great photos and articles. The owner is a former president of the Palm Society of Southern California. Do check out the pictorial presentation on lush and tropical plants on the site for ideas on how to bring color into your landscaping. And of course don't forget planning for your tiki and garden satutes amid your plants. LED low-voltage lighting is available in many price ranges to accent your pieces. http://www.junglemusic.net/?fullweb=1

With southern California having mountains, ocean and inland areas, numerous growing regions are represented, and one can find relevant palm selections at these southern nurseries even for those of us living further north in colder zones. The palms in our landscaping, including the Mule palms pictured above, all came from a palm nursery in the SF South Bay area: http://www.alltropicalpalms.com ; but you'll find palm nurseries in both northern and southern California and they'll be able to help you with what grows best in your particular area. The temps in my area have run from 113F tops one year to 25F a few years back. Wanting low maintenance, we planted palms for our Zone (pinnate and fan for variety) but added less cold tolerant birds of paradise and SunPatiens, for a tropical feel for example, that need frost cover protection when we get to a certain point. A pain, but so worth seeing flowering plants once the temps warm up. Some gardeners like to push zones and can be successful but it will be more work and you can plan your landscaping with overhead canopy to help in that regard.

For newbies I'd recommend you learn your USDA zone and your Sunset Magazine zone to aid in selecting appropriate plants. Sunset Magazine zones are more area specific taking into account rainfall, elevation, ocean influence, etc. Your specific temps/frost likelihood will also be influenced by elements like canopy, structures and elevation dips. Walls will help retain heat, terrain dips will channel cold air to the lowest spots.

BTW many palms can handle a more clay environment so don't let that deter you from looking.

[ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-06-10 19:05 ]

[ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-06-10 20:34 ]

Post #764900 by Polly_Nesia on Fri, Jun 10, 2016 7:01 PM