I agree with your rankings.
Now, back outside to plant Aucuba, Ficus carica, Euonymous "chollipo", Mandevilla, Musa basjoo, elephants ears, sweet potato vines....
--Erik

Recovery

Recovery

Ah, but Jim recovery shouldn't matter for these hardy plants! They should be ready to go all the time!

Erik- Is Aucuba hardy in your area? It survives for me but is useless as an ornamental.

The one time I tried Aucuba, a decade ago, it died its first winter despite a good setting.
I've wanted to try them, and have seen a few growing in Tulsa that looked OK even after this winter. So I'm going to try again.
Debated buying very large specimens for a lot of money but maybe hardier vs. little ones I can think of as annuals if they die.
I bought two little ones. I'll protect them like I did the Indian Hawthorn, which made it.
None of those are for sale here. After this past winter, nurseries are going more conservative.
--Erik

To bad you guys don't live closer I just brought back 50 3 gallon aucubas. They do great here in the shade.

Bill

To bad you guys don't live closer I just brought back 50 3 gallon aucubas. They do great here in the shade.

Bill

😀

It depends on what spot I am trying to fill Paul.
Sometimes it's foliage,sometimes growth speed,sometimes flowers.

The main thing is that it comes back but I also try to find plants that are unusual
or not commonly seen in my area.

Bill,
I'm hoping you give us a full inventory sometime.
On my lunch break I went to that nearby parking lot nursery where a couple brought a truck load of Florida plants for sale. I am curious if you are selling the same things.
As for Aucuba, I can buy potted ones up to 7 gallon size locally, of three varieties. The main reason I am worried is that my tropical-theme garden is in the worst possible microclimate.
I planted my two little Aucuba in what I think of as my "Trachy garden" as it gets afternoon shade from a gazebo. They are in the shadiest part of that. They'll be blasted by wind in the winter but I'll protect them.
Speaking of protection (and I promise Paul, we are still on your topic!), did you protect those oleander of yours?
Jim,
does Aucuba count as exotic where you live?
--Erik

Doesn't count at all 👿

because until you guys mentioned it,I never heard of it!

Oh, sorry.
I grew up in Oregon where Aucuba was over-used to the point where serious gardeners wouldn't grow it. Kind of like Photinia here.
(Recall: my Photinia was killed by this winter. Says something about my gardening skills.)
When I moved to Oklahoma, I learned that Aucuba is a challenge here: our summers are too hot and our winters too cold.
When non-gardening folks have seen mine, what they say is, "Croton?" 😆
--Erik

The list is huge Erik!
800-900 3 gallons alone! Plus tons of 1 & 7's.

Bill