HARDY TROPICALS FOR NIAGARA

A Guide to unusual “hardy” plants

 

Hardy tropicals are plants for collectors and novices alike.  Their main purpose in the landscape is to attract attention with unusual foliage, and of course it brings a feeling of the tropics to your yard.  Besides that, there is some satisfaction to be gained from succeeding with something that most books tell you shouldn’t grow here.  Some of these plants are easy to grow while others have more particular needs.

 

Although Niagara is not quite tropical, these plants should survive zone 6b/7a winter with a little care and protection.  While many of the plants listed below have been successfully grown by local gardeners for years, Rice Road Greenhouses and Garden Centre does not guarantee them over winter.

 

Finally, we rely on information from gardeners who have tried these plants, so if you have had successes (or failures) with these plants, please share your tips.

 

 

 

Hardy Bananas

Musa basjoo is the hardiest of the bananas although others will survive here.  In good soil with regular watering, they will grow from one foot tall seedlings in May to ten foot tall trees in August.  Once the foliage is killed off by a November frost, cut the stem down to around four feet and pile bags of leaves around it being sure to cover all exposed areas of the plant.  In spring, new shoots should emerge from the centre of the old stem as well as from the base.  If not, you’ve had one impressive annual.

 

Musa basjoo     

Musella lasiocarpa

Musa sikkimensis

 

 

  

Bamboo

  Bamboo tends to frighten people because of its reputation for being invasive.  The species Phyllostachys produces thick culms, and is indeed an aggressive spreader.  They can be controlled by means of a barrier.

 

Clump forming Fargesia produces less impressive culms, but these are tidy plants in the garden.

Fargesia rufa “Green Panda” is a tidy clump growing to about 8 feet.

Fargesia robusta “Green Screen” grows to about 12 feet and is as it’s name implies, excellent for use as a living screen.

Fargesia prefers some protection from the mid-day sun.

 

 

 

 

 Trunking Yucca

There are lots of Yuccas around Niagara, but most are Yucca fillimentosa which do not grow a trunk, Trunking Yuccas grow a trunk at the rate of about 2” per year.  The key to their survival is well-drained soil.  They will tolerate very cold winters as long as the soil is not wet.

Additionally if plants are in an exposed area they should be covered in winter to keep snow out of the crown.  (this can lead to rot)

Remember these are plants from the high desert which thrive with minimal moisture.

 

Yucca elata             Yucca faxoniana

Yucca rostrata        Yucca thompsoniana

 

 

 

 

Hardy Cactus

Among the easiest of the exotic plants for Niagara gardens are the hardy cactus.  They thrive on neglect so plant them where they will receive little moisture.

Look for hardy varieties of Opuntia, Corypantha, Cylindropountia and others.  These will survive outside as far north as Ottawa.

They must have dry soil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardy Gardenias and Camellias

Camellia Winter’s Star and Gardenia Kleims hardy are hardy forms of two southern favourites.  How hardy is unclear, but both can survive in Niagara in a sheltered spot with some winter protection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fatsia

These common houseplants will survive in the garden.  With leaves up to a foot across, Fatsia adds a tropical touch to the garden.  They are best in an east exposure where they receive some protection from the mid-day sun as well as from winter winds from the west.  Add a layer of mulch to maintain soil moisture.

 

 

 

Poncirus trifoliate

Hardy Orange

This relative of the Florida orange grows in Niagara and bears fruit in the fall.  And while these look like oranges and are in fact edible, they are not very tasty.  It is a spiny deciduous species from China and Korea. On a practical note, it is cold-hardy, unlike Citrus in general.  In May or June pretty, white flowers, 1-2 inches wide, erupt, and its trifoliate leaves come on, growing into a rich glossy backdrop for the dull, fuzzy, little green fruits that form.
By late summer or autumn the 1-2 inch wide fruit turns to a sort of half-hearted orange color and is amazingly fragrant and alluring.

  

 

Hardy Palm Trees

Palm trees in Niagara?  There are a few types of palm trees that will survive down to about -18°C and colder.  Unlike the bananas however, palm trees are very slow growing evergreens.  That means you must protect them in winter to protect them in winter to protect the existing foliage.  Experience has shown that several Sabal minor’s with no winter protection survived, but lost all their existing foliage, new leaves appeared by mid-summer.  The best method is to build a protective covering of plastic over them.

 

   

                                                   Types of Hardy Palm

 

Needle Palm – rhapidophyllum hystrix is currently thought to be the hardiest of the hardy palms.  (-20 to -25EC).  Protect  from winter sun.

Sabal Minor is a shrub palm that has survived our winters with out protection, although we advise that you do provide some)

Trachycarpus or Windmill palm is the hardiest of the trunk forming palms.  Several species are available, but all need winter protection in Niagara.

Mazari Palm, Nannorrops ritchiana is a new contender for hardiest palm.  This hard to find palm comes from Afghanistan and needs dry soil.

 

 

 

  

 

Evergreen Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora is a spectacular tree from the southern states.  Some varieties will survive here and be fully evergreen in mild winters.  Leaves may be lost in very cold winters, but these will re-grow in spring.  The dark green glossy foliage is often used in Christmas arrangements. 

The hardiest are:

Magnolia g. Edith Bogue        

Magnolia g. Victoria     

Magnolia g. Brackens Brown Beauty

 

  

 

Spotted Laurel

 Aucuba japonica is known as Japanese laurel or spotted laurel.  This beautiful evergreen shrub performs best in a sheltered east facing location.  While most books give it a zone 7, experience has shown that they can over winter with out showing any signs of winter wilt or browning.

 

Aucuba Gold Dust             Aucuba picturata

Aucuba Mr Goldstrike       Aucuba serratifolia

 

 

 

 

Monkey Puzzle Tree 

 This is a frightening plant to touch, hence its common name.  Araucaria araucana is at the very edge of it’s hardiness in Niagara.  While in its native habitat they can grow to 50 feet or ore, an older specimen in Niagara on the lake is barely five feet tall. 

Plant in a sheltered location.

                       

 

   

Clerodendron trichotomum

Harlequin Glory Bower is the only member of this tropical plant family to survive in Niagara.  Unusual peanut scented flowers are produced in fall.  These are followed by attractive blue fruit.

 

 

 

 

Albizia

Also known as Mimosa, this is a finely textured, exotic tree that is hardy here, it needs no particular protection.  In late summer fluffy pink flowers appear. 

Albizia needs a sunny location.

Can grow 10-15 feet tall.