Some winter garden pics:

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:50 am

I took some photos last weekend, and thought I'd share them here. This is a USDA zone 4b/5a, but the low this winter has been -22C (zone 6 temp).

Ilex aquipernyi, a real winner so far:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... nRBY"><img src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/49173 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2028"></a>
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... vxVi"><img src="http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/18139 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2029"></a>

Yucca 'protection' to keep the rabbits away. The large plants are Y. elata:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... dGHH"><img src="http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/44281 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2030"></a>

Yucca glauca (middle) and Yucca 'Big Tenn' x filata 'seedlings' (with frost cloth):
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... XJmS"><img src="http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/50785 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2031"></a>

This is why I tied the Yucca leaves up. Hooray for rabbits:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... AjfL"><img src="http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/12266 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2032"></a>

Ilex pendunculosa female:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... fEHf"><img src="http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/48966 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2035"></a>
Male (some leaf damage, it was in active growth in November):
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... dSMW"><img src="http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/50094 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2036"></a>

Daphinophyllum... Probably not long term hardy:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... HVze"><img src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/47855 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2037"></a>

Some freeze-dry on the bamboo, others (like the F. nitida) drop most of their leaves over winter anyway:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... HqDc"><img src="http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/49293 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2039"></a>

Phy. aureosulcata looks good:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... AiRk"><img src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/27870 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2040"></a>

Inside the palm hut. R. hystrix and S. minor:
<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... Ksnz"><img src="http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/49765 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSCN2041"></a>

Losses so far:
Illicium parviflorum. NOt completely dead, but close!
Sabal birmingham. Spear pull and dry leaves. Shoot (The S. minor 'Brazoria' looks fine so far.) Not sure what I should plant in place of the birmingham? I have another needle of decent size, a decent sized T. fortunei var. wagnerianus, a T fortunei 'nanital', and a bunch of fortunei...

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:15 am

Paul, thanks for the early spring update! Unlikely if I will be able taking "the spring shots" until the end of March - too cold with a plenty of snow so far!

your picture Yucca glauca (middle) and Yucca 'Big Tenn' x filata 'seedlings' (with frost cloth): does Arundo donax stands at the upper right corner there?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:48 am

Very nice, Paul!
Sorry about the Sabal "Birmingham". Not long-term hardy here, either, but I have some seedlings I'm growing up--they came inside for winter. Very good to hear about "Brazoria." I don't have any but want to learn more about them.
As for suggestions, I am a big fan of needle palms. You'll want to heat them, but that is true for every palm where you live.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:39 am

Those rabbits and their damage, what a shame

Happy to see a holly that's suited to zone 4; will look for it here.
Doubt it'll like our summer's dry heat.

That aureosulcata's getting beautiful.

Yes, good news about the S. Brazoria.

Nice update Paul.
Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:18 pm

Pretty good paul! I was wondering how your bamboo was doing this year.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:08 pm

Excellent job Paul

This winter has helped us all out!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:52 pm

Nice pics, Paul! Do you think D. macropodum is the hardiest Daphniphyllum?

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:28 am

Cam- I've not tried any others. From what I had read there weren't any others hardy below zone 8... If you have a suggestion I'd love to hear it! I'm always looking for more plants to kill! P.S. I will email you soon.

Thanks Jim and barb.

Erik- The 'Birmingham' is really disappointing. I love the look of trunking Sabals, and since I'm going to have to protect anyway I went for Sabal instead of Trachycarpus (which I like, but they are coarse plants)... I guess that next I will have to try S. palmetto! The needle has earned its spot for this coming season. That'll be 2 in the ground.

Igor- The grass is Miscanthus gigantus (floridus). Unfortunately A. donax has not been hardy for me.

<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... RbVU"><img src="http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/6275/ ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC02968"> You can see the Yuccas etc. to the right!

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:43 am

Thanks, Paul! Your Miscantus looks gorgeous! Pretty much Arundies !

I will let you know if my Arundo does well after this unbelievably cold winter.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:17 am

nice grass clump Paul!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:51 am

Glad to see most of your yuccas are doing good.

Nice summer pic.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 11:38 am

The March issue of Gardens West featured a new holly rated Zone 6, but with the comment "suspicion that further testing will bring it into Zone 5".
Ilex "Red Beauty" from Monrovia.

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/p ... -holly.php

If it can grow in 5, and I sure hope so, it would only thrive on the East side of a building in the Okanagan's heat and dry winds.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:44 pm

Hi Barb,

Have you ever tried Holly in your area? The native Holly trees in our area are understory trees growing below other taller trees so if you try one, keep it out of the hot, dry sun.

Here's a few of our natives:

Typical leaf:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 090944.jpg>

Odd leaf form....likely a hybrid with a garden variety:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 91133a.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 91133c.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 91133d.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 091134.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 091159.jpg>

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 091232.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:16 pm

Yup, several times, all died.
Just too hot/dry and windy here in summer.
So it's encouraging to see one that might be rated a 5.

When I lived in Vancouver they were everywhere, gorgeous.
Stately 20 footers flanking a driveway, a row down a back fence.
All loaded with red berries.

They also like 100 inches of rain a year and acid soil (that part's easy).

The crinkled leaf one in your 2nd pic is a lovely variety.
Thanks for the pics.

Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:30 am

Im pretty sure there are quite a few zone 5 holly. "possumhaw" is native to southern ontario. I think the problem in your area barb, as you mentioned is lack of water, lack of proper soil, and strong, dry wind.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:37 am

Lots of people grow Ilex here, where the soil is bad and summers hot and dry. But as you go further west, where it gets even drier, Holly has to be watered more regularly in summer. You can grow Ilex, Barb, if you choose species carefully (NOT the holly they grow in Vancouver!) and water in summer.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:23 am

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:49 am

Hi Paul,

I like the Holly with the non-serrated leaf edge.

Hi Barb,

I agree lack of moisture is likely your biggest enemy with Holly's. You'll have to try a more protected/shaded area like beneath a tree??

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:39 am

Will just wait for a true Zone five-er.
Too much babying involved otherwise.

Have lived in Vernon for eons, and have never seen a holly even in the older more protected sections of town.

That non-serrated edge one does look lovely Tim.

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:13 pm

Paul, I think pic number is maybe an Osmanthus. There is a twenty foot tall osmanthus at Vineland nurseries. Looks like that. I also have Osmanthus 'Goshiki' growing here outdoors for the past two years.

O 'Goshiki':

And Ilex blueboy/bluegirl grafted two year old planted out in our front yard:

To the right, Ilex cornuta 'golden gem', three years out front, doing OK, but we lost one due to soil shrink and under watering in the third year. On the left, Ilex aquifolium 'Aurea Marginata' been planted out there for two winters now.

All of these have experienced -17c temperatures a dozen times and -20c once for ten hours.

I agree supplemental watering is necessary at summer's peak.

Adam

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:17 pm

Tim, pic number 5. May be Osmanthus.
Adam

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:31 am

Hey Adam,

I can see why you say that. It's labelled as JT morris (if you look it up this is I. cornuta x I. pernyi). A very different looking plant!

Man do I ever wish I could grow I. aquifolium! The leaves are fantastic on that species!

PalmsNorth.com

Some winter garden pics:

Some winter garden pics:

Holly

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