Frost Part II

The following plants are frequently planted in gardens around the Monterey Bay and the rest of the Central Coast. They usually survive our winters without any damage. But we do experience more extreme temperature fluctuations every few years. This week looks like it might be one of those times. If you have any of the plants on the list below, make sure to be proactive and utilize some of the frost protections that we discussed in the last post.

BOUGAINVILLEA – Bougainvillea spectabilis & hybrids

ANGEL’S TRUMPET – Brugmansia hybrids

MEXICAN HEATHER & CIGAR PLANT – Cuphea species

AUSTRALIAN TREE FERN - Cyathea cooperi

TREE DAHLIA - Dahlia imperialis

ABYSSINIAN BANANA – Ensete ventricosum

POINSETTIA - Euphorbia pulcherrima (not often planted in the ground around here, but otherwise an ubiquitous container plant during the coldest part of the year)

FUCHSIA – Fuchsia (hardiness varies by variety)

HELIOTROPE - Heliotropium arborescens

TROPICAL HIBISCUS - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (some like ‘Agnes Galt’ and ‘White Wings’ are hardier than others)

POOR MAN’S RHODODENDRON - Impatiens sodenii (I. oliveri)

LANTANA - Lantana camara & L. montevidensis (L. sellowiana)

STATICE - Limonium perezii

PASSION VINE – Passiflora species & hybrids

MARTHA WASHINGTON GERANIUM – Pelargonium domesticum

COMMON GERANIUM - Pelargonium hortorum

IVY GERANIUM - Pelargonium peltatum

ORNAMENTAL SAGE – Salvia species (mostly those from Southern Mexico and Central America like S. mexicana and S. involucrata with large leaves and little scent)

BLUE POTATO BUSH - Solanum rantonnetii

BIRD OF PARADISE - Strelitzia reginae

PRINCESS FLOWER - Tibouchina urvilleana

SUCCULENTS – The most at risk are: Aeonium, Agave attenuata, Aloe (most), Crassula, Euphorbia, Kalanchoe & Portulacaria afra (Jade Plant).

Stay tuned for an expanded list of frost sensitive plants.