I live in South Texas, and would be willing to test some seeds for you. I would not do this until March or April. February is out coldest month. I will plant them directly outside. My datura are about 5 foot tall, and full of blooms right now. Will this have a pretty flower, like the double datura? I am 37 miles north of Corpus Christi, in a town called Rockport, this is my second residence, I have alot of flower beds there with great soil. Barbra,

I have this book. I like how it advocates the view that something does not have to be completely hardy to be worth growing. You can enjoy a plant for a few years until a really cold one comes along, or you can take simple measures to protect plants from cold temperatures on the few coldest nights - and such measures are not really so much more work than various other things people do to take care of their plants. Also, the view that some degree of winter damage can be tolerated for certain plants whose ornamental virtues are worth it. It also picks out a few plants that are much hardier than commonly supposed, especially the Southeastern native palms, and some other plants that may be tropical-looking but are actually temperate-zone plants. However, the book seems to make a bit much of plants that will only survive mild winters, but not even average ones. Personally, while I like to grow many plants that may not survive a very cold winter, I feel that it is more worth growing plants that can survive average (and mild) winters because at least the odds of it surviving a given winter are in your favor. If you plant things relying on a mild winter your luck will run out pretty quick. Also, the book's coverage is heavily biased towards plants that are more available and more popular back east; and, in some cases, the plants are much better adapted to their hot humid summers and more continental climate. Coverage of more 'maritime climate plants' that are more appropriate for us is very limited. Many outstanding broadleaf evergreens that thrive here are excluded from the book. A couple of the color plates show incorrectly identified plants. Still, it's kind of a fun book to have.

here's the other picture. Couldn't figure out how to get both pics in one post, sorry. Here is a link that might be useful:

I have to admit, I have bought several Hoyas, not because I wanted them but because they were flooded and dying. I just bought my third variegated Hoya heuschkeliana. I know they dont grow well down here, the last one I bought melted into a pile of rot within a week. But I just bought 2 more. I'm an idiot, they will die! Still, I hope to give them a fighting chance! They looked so unhappy! lol