I always see plants I wish I could grow in Houston, Texas. I mean you look in the magazines and the books and drool over the plants that you know wouldn't survive in your climate. Here's what I wish I could have in my garden without having to baby them along:

Lupines
Peonies
Virginia bells
Hostas (ones that are lush and not puny)
etc.

What plants do you wish you could grow?

Every climate must have its plusses and minuses. One thing I like about my zone is that it's a crossroads between the subtropical deep South and the more temperate Upper South. So, I can grow some things from both worlds for a major hodge-podge.

Clay,
How refreshing to read your nice post. Wonder why we Americans can never be happy with what we have??? I am as bad as the next one tho' Would love to grow my Michigan Hostas in Alabama, and ever tho I have loads of azalias there, I am pampering Northern Lights (azaleas) here in zone 4/3. I feel lucky that I can have North and South gardens, but still insist on trying to defy mother nature. Annie

I had lots of young palms in my garden, most of which would be hardy for me if they had been better established. But last Winter zapped many of them when I left for a week around Christmas and the weather got colder than predicted.

Howsomeever....I WANT peonies! I really, really want them. I love that flower. I love the plant shape. I love the tree form ones. I just love them. I have heard somewhere that there are a few that will SURVIVE around here but have never actually seen one.

I also think this thread is a good indication of what is unique about our zone- we aren't securely tropical nor more temperate. If we get a good freeze, our bulbs bloom but our tropicals die. If we don't get a good freeze, our tropicals thrive and our bulbs don't bloom. And it is about 50/50 as to which we get. Which might be the reaosn most of us grow some of each- that way we rarely really lose!

Of course, when I lived in Northern Oklahoma (prior to returning home to the SE), I was envious of the "deep south" people, and couldn't grow a decent fig tree or scuppernong grape vine no matter how hard I tried. But, on the flip side, those wildflowers out there can be breathtaking. (And the roadrunners, scissor-tail flycatchers, and jackrabbits are all interesting critters to watch, and the sunsets are fantastic...) Anyway, I too believe in spending most of my time and energy cherishing what my own particular region has to offer, without spending toooo much time envying the other folks.

I dragged my husband to Antique Rose Emporium display gardens in GA this spring and he kept pointing to the peonies, clematis, delphinium and oriental poppies and saying "Those are beautiful, why don't you grow those?" GRRRR!

One more to add - apples. More than anything I miss hard, crunchy, fresh apples - baskets of them that I hadn't heard of before in the farmers' market, all different colors and flavors, and no wax on their peels.

Of course, when we lived up north I always complained that we couldn't get good oranges or avocados.....

Lilacs
Delphiniums
Peonies
Oriental Poppies
Tulips
Fuchsia
Clematis
Etc.

I do miss Lilacs and peonies!!! (tried both, did not work for me though I saw in my neighborhood peonies doing quite beutifully.

girlsaylor

Susie

Bill

Keith

There are also grape varieties that do well in Florida, and of course low chill Peaches, Nectarines, Plums and Pears.

Nothing better then wandering around in the yard picking fresh fruit off the trees.

Lisa

Bunch grapes - Concord most especially. Pierce's Disease is a pain in the butt.

GOOD apples. I'm aware of Anna, Golden Dorsett, and Tropic Sweet. They're all mediocre compared to what I've eaten in North Carolina and Maine. The other low-chill apples are even worse.

I'd love to be able to put my Key limes in the ground, but I'm too far north here in Florida for that.

Whose idea was this chill hour thing anyway?

.....Alan.

I really enjoyed the last crop, they were like juicy Granny Smiths, but seedless. This year, with 5 varieties blooming, I think the no-seed issue is moot. I suspect my best producing tree last year is mislabeled, since the apples did not match the description.

The trees are so pretty, that even if they didn't fruit, I'd grow them. The applesauce I made last year was a big hit, this year I'll do more cooking since I now have 8 trees with lots of fruit on them.

On the other hand, I really don't like my Key Lime trees. They are finicky, almost as bad as Meyer Lemons. My other 25+ varieties of citrus do great. Glad you are having good experiences with yours. After struggling with my oldest tree for over 5 years, it is 8' tall and has yet to hold onto a lime. My newer KL trees are better, with tiny fruit all over them. I may change my opinion of Key Limes if they stay behaving(G).

I have 8 varieties of grapes (including bunch grapes) to plant this week. Wild grapes do very, very well here, and I picked named varieties that are disease resistant. Just Fruits and Exotics was my source.

Can't you grow Cherries in zone 9?

Lisa

I'm aware of the Florida bred bunch grapes. I've been looking for a Conquistadore for a while, but haven't been able to find one. None of the others sound too promising as far as vigor is concerned, but I may yet try one or two. I've got six named varieties of muscadines including a Southern Home, but they're too young to bear just yet.

You keep having good luck with your apples and I may change my mind about them. How often do you have to spray them?

.....Alan.

I'll try to get some better pictures. Hard to do with all the palm trees behind them, they make actually being able to see the entire trees difficult.

I have some trees on very dwarfing rootstock, to keep as container plants. I get such a kick out of seeing 3' tall apple trees blooming/fruiting.

I could mail you some fruit to try once they are ripe, if you like. Or, come pick 'em yourself.

Lisa

hostas
tulips
clematis

Heartbreaking every Thanksgiving to see frost take the baby bananas...but then we do have broccoli and kale and potato to lively up the winter garden!

Good lord! I could cry every time I see one on the computer. But living here in Savannah, I'd have NO chance of keeping one alive! :*(

BTW: I always thought that I was in zone 8b. However, now, some people are saying that the USDA hardiness zone chart is being redrawn. Can anyone post a link to the new map?

Thanks! :D

People are growing for centuries Mangoes, Papaya, Guava, Mulberry (long), Jujube, Sapote, Custard Apple, Fig, Bel, Lemon, Coconuts.

Weather: sub-tropical hot and humid, Tem. in summer 96 -110F, Latitude 21-27 degrees, Rainfall: 1150m, Monsoon rain from June to August. Not enough cold in winter to break dormancy, Clay soil which can be improved with deep compost and mulch.

People are growing for centuries Mangoes, Papaya, Guava, Mulberry (long), Jujube, Sapote, Custard Apple, Fig, Bel, Lemon, Coconuts.

Weather: sub-tropical hot and humid, Tem. in summer 96 -110F, Latitude 21-27 degrees, Rainfall: 1150m, Monsoon rain from June to August. Not enough cold in winter to break dormancy, Clay soil which can be improved with deep compost and mulch.