Dragging this up from last month (sleepless nightsConifers wrote:No, they're not hardy in the UK; and from what I've read, lack of summer heat is also important as well as frost (-3 or -4 is about its tolerance limit).Troppoz wrote:I dont think [Schinus molle] are hardy in the UK though? They grow in Hobart so they dont need summer heat obviously, but not sure they could survive a freeze...
), I grew both Schinus molle and terebinthinifolius outside here for several years. They withstood -2C and -3C without damage, but were killed outright at -6.4C in the 2009/10 winter. Molle is the nicest of the two species and seems to adapt well to being grown in a large container (I had 2 in the ground and 5 in large pots). It is very easy from seed and is satisfyingly fast. Whether or not it can be persuaded to produce its highly attractive pink 'peppercorns' in the UK remains to be seen, but I've just germinated a few from very old seed that I found and am having another go. I've just received seed of Cordyline petiolaris mentioned by Half Hardy and hope that I can persuade it to survive here. Cordyline stricta and x glauca are currently the most tender that seem to do well with me, but they are nothing compared to the elegance of petiolaris so fingers crossed.