Ok, well call me the Good News / Bad News girl. Good News: the most fragrant rose that I have ever smelled is Color Magic (an HT). I planted one by my former back door and was so amazed that I planted two more. Magnificent wafts of fragrance as soon as I opened the door ~20' away, and that's with avg. coastal SoCal humidity, not Florida. YMMV, but I also loved the GIANT, mutable blooms which, even when cut fully open last a week in the house. ONE bloom will *completely* fill a LARGE room with sweet, sweet fragrance. Bad News: It could bloom more (or I could fertilize more). BUT, more important, it really would have done better for me with regular spray for mildew. Rust is not that big a deal, plant-wise, but in my experience, mildew will debilitate and kill it over time. It's a bloody shame, as Suzy would say. If you spray and have a cutting bed, this is a keeper. More Bad News: You will need to cross-reference mildew susceptibility for the fragrance suggestions above if you do not spray regularly. In particular, Double Delight: 2+ mildew; 4+ rust Rouge Royale: 4+ mildew even in 9% humidity in SoCal Mtns, don't bother Freddy Mistral, Sonia Rykiel: lovely but gone because I didn't spray Fragrant Cloud (and most anything orange) & Tiffany: 4+ mildew Good News: GramHat & Golden Celebration are bullet proof and I could not recommend them more. GramHat is pink, floppy and old-fashioned in fragrance and form, while GC, to me, is such a happy looking bush in bloom, no doubt due to my reaction to yellow, and also has very good fragrance and will try to fill a room. Blooms will blow faster, but it's a great repeater in this area. Good News: Anything Jeri recommends. Seriously. Good Hunting!

I haven't grown this leucadendron, but San Marcos Growers indicates to 'prune hard during flowering for cut flowers or just after to maintain the vigor of the plant and to control its size'. I find that their site has some good information on growing plants in SoCal. Interesting that this one seems to like a more acid soil. I have seen it offered at local nurseries; pretty plant. Here is a link that might be useful: San Marcos Growers

If you can provide the correct growing requirements, I think it quite possible :-) You may have a lot better luck focusing on the heaths (Erica species) rather than on heathers (Calluna vulgaris) - there are many more species for one and the vast majority originate from South Africa or around the Mediterranean.....a little more in line with your climate conditions. Most will appreciate acidic soils that are well-draining and have been somewhat organically enriched. Full sun is good. While most will become quite drought tolerant once established, they need frequent watering when first planted.......young plants cannot be allowed to dry out. If none are offered by local retail nurseries (not always a good sign.....generally means plants are not well-suited for your area or are very uncommonly planted), you could investigate mail order. Here's a couple to get you started. I've purchased from both and have no issues with either plant quality or customer service. http://www.canby.com/hheather/ http://www.heathsandheathers.com/hhweb_001.htm

For those in the San Diego area, I just thought Id mention that the Armstrong Nursery on Morena Blvd (by SeaWorld Drive/Tecolate Road) has some great tomato varieties. They started offering more obscure varieties last year (than you would usually find in a nursery around here) and the plants look great. I was just out there last weekend and they have Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, etc I picked up a Sungold plant there last year which did great in my garden. And I did same thing this year. I usually plant about ten varieties from seed and this year I decided not to do Sungold from seed because I could just pick up a plant from them thats about 18" high, healthy, and only pay $4 for it. Last year they also had Kelloggs Breakfast which did really well in my garden. I didnt see it last weekend but may do a drive-by tomorrow to see if its back.