Tropical plants for zone 9a??

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Courtney

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by Courtney »

Hi,i'm new in this forum. I want to create a tropical garden but i live in zone 9a, the minimum temperature here usually is about 24F, but in the last winter temperature dropped to 20F.
My zone is very rainy and windy, but i can see lemon trees,however they are very damaged by frost every year.
I would know if these plants could survive in my zone.
Persea americana
Litchi tree
Annona cherimola
Psidium cattleianum
Hedychium coccineum
Ficus elastica
Heliconia schiedeana
Philodendron selloum
Hylocereus undatus
Can you advise me other hardy tropical plants, please?
Thank you.
otorongo
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:12 pm
Location: sub-subtropical London

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by otorongo »

Hello and welcome.

In terms of minimum temperatures, you're colder than parts of central London. But you probably have more summer heat and a longer growing season.

Avocados grow in London, even in the cooler parts, so that's definitely worth trying. But choose one of the hardier varieties.

Psidium cattleianum may work too, but if it doesn't, a hardy alternative would be Feijoa sellowiana.

I grow a small, potted Monstera deliciosa in a very sheltered spot. Last winter it lost its leaves, but it has regrown two big leaves already.
Courtney

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by Courtney »

Yes, here the summer is very warm, and the frost does not last long.
Do you think ficus elastica can tolarate this temperatures?
What do you mean when you say hardy avocado varieties?
Thank you forma the answer!!
otorongo
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Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:12 pm
Location: sub-subtropical London

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by otorongo »

For hardy avocados check out this article: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible ... -trees.htm

For borderline hardiness / pushing the zone, I like to read the comments on Plantfiles as they contain freetext info with more details (how long the cold lasted, whether there was any protection, etc.) rather than just the zone. Here is the entry for Ficus elastica: https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/718/#b
Last edited by otorongo on Sat Dec 29, 2018 1:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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tatter
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:37 pm
Location: smethwick west mids

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by tatter »

Hello and welcome
Jim
I'm older than yesterday but younger than tomorrow
GREVILLEAJ
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Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:38 pm
Location: London

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by GREVILLEAJ »

Welcome to HTUK, Courtney. icon_cheers

That's an ambitious choice you've chosen there nut the only way to be sure is to boldly put the plant where no plant has gone before.
Courtney

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by Courtney »

Hi, i know it is a strange choice.
avocado mexicola seems to be hardy to 20F.
If i want to create a hardy tropical garden, but excluding musa basjoo i do not know other hardy tropical plants.
Ficus elastica seems to be damaged when temperature drops to 23F, i will try it anyway..
Chez2
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Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2018 5:09 pm
Location: Rotherham / Sheffield

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by Chez2 »

Hello. I'm not really qualified to answer your questions.
otorongo
Posts: 1434
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:12 pm
Location: sub-subtropical London

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by otorongo »

There is no way you could grow cherimoyas I'm afraid.
The cherimoya is subtropical or mild-temperate and will tolerate light frosts. Young growing tips are killed at 29° F and and mature trees are killed or severely injured at 25° F.
https://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/cherimoya.html

When I lived in Spain, there were lots of those around me.
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tatter
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 7:37 pm
Location: smethwick west mids

Tropical plants for zone 9a??

Post by tatter »

Do you have any palms already or they on your no no list along with Musa Basjoo ?
Jim
I'm older than yesterday but younger than tomorrow
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