Good question Big S!!
One way to help out would to specify recommended zonal areas (USDA? Sunset?) for plants we recommend. Maybe a little blurb on the culture of the plants suggested.
One problem is many of us, like Mich, live in zonal denial! *smile*
p

Hey Perry:

Thanks for the props on my question.

To clarify, let me use an extremely simplistic example because of my limited knowledge of the plant palette in your Zone 6 garden. Suppose you came on and asked, "what flowering trees can you can recommend that are not as nasty as other ones and have beautiful large flowers." If you were in coastal Cali, low desert Southwest, or central/south Florida, I'd say Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia x bleakeana). For your garden, and equivalent will a type of dogwood.

In other words, I'm aware of Sunset, USDA zones for the whole country. The issue is the one illustrated above . . . how do I suggest an equivalent-performing tree that would act similarly to a Zone 9-10 suggestion I make. I don't just want to say, "well Melanie, a vine I's suggest for an arbor-fence combo with red flowers might be blood red trumpet vine (Distictis buccinatoria), but that will croak in your area, so I really don't know."color>

I'd like to be able to say, "well Melanie, a vine I'd suggest for an arbor-fence combo with red flowers might be blood red trumpet vine (Distictis buccinatoria). Unfortunately, it won't take your cold, but a nice equivalent that will perform with similar habit and flowers is a campsis vine."color>

I know many of us have zonal envy, but I've been consulting my doctor about it.

spectre

P.S.: Another story about envy: I bought a book entitled How to Make it Big, but I was really upset when I read it . . . turned out it was just about money.

P.P.S.: The previous postscript was purely fictional and was posted for entertaiment and humorous purposes only and in no way reflects the true size of matters in my life. I felt compelled that I had to be big about it and come clean.

It's most helpful when posters stick to their areas of expertise when advising others, IMHO. Actual experience with plant material in the poster's locale is invaluable, versus something read from a book or catalogue only. Most of the books give such general information; the details and particulars that often make the difference between a so-so and a magnificent garden are what we have to offer each
other.

You can't always judge from the Zone a person posts along with their name, either. Perhaps a poster once lived in a different locale so does have first hand experience with vastly different plant zones/areas of the country or world.

As with so much on the internet, caveat emptor. Even the best intentioned, well-informed gardener can make mistakes when advising others, too.

spectre: You need additional tropical sorts to post here so you have more practical work to do . . . Come on, California, Florida, Caribbean, Bali, Mexico, South America, South Africa,Tropical and Tropicalesque Re-designs and Garden History!

G.

As a gardener's plant pallet increases and growing experience increases, the gardener can make relativley safe assumptions about plants and their growing capabilities, even after just reading about them and getting general info.
With that said I do agree with Ginger that it is most helpful when posters stick to their areas of expertise.
I lived in Southern Cal. for many years, however I would personally be reluctant to suggest plantings for someone out there with out some sort of disclaimer (?) or explanation. As I continue to vacilate...and more to my point... (we hope)... I don't see where there is anything wrong with an educated suggestion even if you are not from the region in question.
P

......and submitted before I was through. whoopsie
Making the "edgeecated" suggestion on this forum will, if nothing else, start a lively conversation (aka debate) and we all win in the end. lol
p

It's most helpful when posters stick to their areas of expertise when advising others.

yup.

SO--I'll handle central NC plants--but I'm mostly into color and scent (we've discussed "my problem" before)--so someone else will have to handle bushes--except for hydrangeas. I claim hydrangeas..Nandina can take the lower south, Cady and Ginger have the Northeast--Momcat can handle the eastern Midwest--with supoort from Eric...anyone else? This is kind-of fun...I'm certain I've left SOMEONE out! Where's Perry? The NC mountains?

melanie/WAY too much caffiene today...

OH--along with the Piedmont, I'll handle all queries on language.

Sometimes we just have to wait around for someone else to answer the question. The answer is -- recruit more participants from all over the place.

So many times I've read a question from an unfamiliar zone and my (unposted)answer has been "I have no clue." But it's an opportunity to learn when someone who *does* have a clue answers.

It can be very amusing when someone ventures a guess, however, and I don't want to totally squelch the entertainment value of the forums by requiring licenses and degrees to answer questions.

I second Catkim's point. You don't grow unless you venture a guess. Then if you make a mistake and someone mildly disagrees or even jumps all over you - either way, its a learning experience.

Hello All:

I am speaking about general assumptions with disqualifiers. For instance, I've read threads on LD where Mich opines on plant suggestions for people from parts of country like Alabama that are dissimilar in climate to northern California, but she qualifies it by saying that she's never been there, so she correctly advises to adjust accordingly.

There are design concepts, ideas, and styles that are universal enough to suggest plant types regardless of one's location, and I definitely feel confident enough to help someone with a tropicalesque or subtropical garden in Maryland. If someone asks about help for a 1920's Great Gatsbyesque Long Island garden, or a 2004 English Tudor garden, that's where I will refrain from making useless suggestions.

The gray area is a question like Jo's in an earlier thread. For a real-life demo of what I'm trying to say, consider this example: something I'd recommend for someone asking that question in SoCal is Calliandra haematocephala or powderpuff vine. It's a scandent vine that can be espaliered or trained to grow self supporting on a fence and can be confined to narrow spaces. It has beautiful pink to red "puffy" flowers and dark green, fern like foliage. It blooms in late winter to late spring. I know this will not grow in Jo's area, but is there something in similar habit to this plant that someone might recommend?color>

This is where I'm talking about the need for a translator. It's the general "what type of plant do you recommend for this kind of situation" questions I'm wondering about.

spectre

Oh, another thing:

Melanie and Cady, I thought that at least you two would have jumped all over that postscript further back! Did I violate some kind of penal code?

spectre

Blue postscripts aside . . . I think your "plant translator" is a good book idea. Maybe we could do a thread on this to get things started.
G.

Took all mys self-restraint not to. I am trying to become a reformed character. I LOVE the book idea--and we have ALMOST enough zones represented to cover it. C'mon people--let's get started! BUT before we start-- Are we going to eschew invasives?

melanie

Now there is something to tackle... a Regional Cross Reference Plant Translator Guide. hmmmmmm......

if its okay with y'all I'll stand on the side line for this one, I have enough on my pallet this spring beginning with letting the fair citizens know I am not planting begonias and red geraniums this year. lol
P

Sorry, I am lost in this discussion/proposal! Thought this was a Forum devoted to historical and garden restoration. I'm with Perry on this one....planning to sit it out....or maybe....I'll just practice walking on water.

I too am in zone denial. I try to push aside the hardiness limitations often because I have many micro-climates / micro-zones in my yard. Sometimes I win. Sometimes the plant doesn't.

I don't know if this suggestion may make things easier but here goes...

Maybe people from the various zones could list their three favorite flowering vines, three favorite shade lovers and so on. Listing the common and scientific names will quickly help compile the translator guide. (You can't list a plant unless you have both.)

Adding a short bit about the soil type and watering requirements as well as what we cold hardy people do to get the plants to survive the winter may help others decide, regardless of their zones.

For example if I can grow a tree fern in northern Ohio outdoors perhaps other people may be able to do the same.

Posts could be something like "What's Your Favorite Shade Lover?" or "What do you Grow that isn't Supposed to Grow in Your Zone?" A list is quickly compiled and maybe even added to the FAQ in the future.

As an incentive to help with this project, a prize for best contribution. A shrubbery! No. Sorry. Perhaps a copy of Pruning Recommendations pdf?

Hey ChickaDDD:

That is a good suggestion and fairly straight forward to implement.

Nandina & Perry: This does concern restoration . . . isn't that what happens when someone says that they're ripping out overgrown plants and want to start over. Puhhhhhhleeze don't go! We can use the help?

spectre

Nandina-
Maybe this will just be a fun thread.

We don't have to stretch the definition of garden renovation too much (thereby not squashing enthusiasm!) to see that in a mobile society part of renovating/restoring a garden may include attempting to restore a visual memory of a garden left behind (sounds like something Tony would write!) We have to find plants that will both grow well and look similar to those in the garden we wish to re-create.

I remember when I moved to Maine I wanted to recreate parts of my Virginia garden. Would have been much more difficult if I had gone from say, California to Maine . . . so perhaps spectre has an idea that might be fun to examine for a bit on a thread. Or even useful.

Lets see. . . powder puff vine substitute for Zone 5-6: how about ipomea 'Scarlet Call' (red flowered morning glory)? At least it's a vine with red blooms . . .

I think some of the paint-by-number garden design catalogs like Spring Hill have lists of plant variety substitutes according to zones.

G.

Hey ChickaD3... way off subject here!!! (sorry all)
Please contact me via e-mail ( check my home page ) have a few questions I would like to ask you, regarding some of the plants on your home page list. thanks. did not find a e- mail on yours.
p.s. great list!!!

Also red trumpet vine (more orange-y really): perennial like the powder puff vine would be in CA, whereas the morning glory is annual.

Would be fun to come up with a list of plant substitutes for various zones - but no more time today. Luck with your idea, spectre!
G.

Hey spectre & ginger not bowing out just standing on the side lines. I would suggest a Clematis vine, but not being familiar with the 300 (?) species available out in the big world I would just be faking it.

Hey guys can fake it too ya know. 8>P

P

Perry:

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one not chicken enough to come up with a nice double entendre. Melanie, cluck, cluck, cluck.

spectre

Perry-
Refining your idea a bit-'Niobe' is a nice red clematis, finer foliage, more like a powderpuff vine than my two offerings. See, we are getting there.

Now if we only had someone who wanted a powderpuff vine in Z4 . . .

G.

Actually--what I REALLY want is a porcelain berry vine ampelopsis--but it's an "no-no invasive." BUT SO COOL--electric blue berries--any ideas gang? Color slut issues again...

melanie

thank you mjsee, i'd like to accept the nomination to represent the midwestern states, looks like i won on the first ballot........

I've lived in "Zone 8" all of my life -- from Zone 8 in Everett, WA, about 27 miles north of Seattle, to Zone 8 in Seattle, to Zone 8 here in Portland, Oregon, and as far south as Zone 8 in Austin, Texas!

And believe me, they are all very, very different "Zone 8"s.

Meconopsis does great in Everett. It dies quickly in Austin.

Ruellia is right at home in Austin -- but it won't make it through an Everett or Seattle winter, and it's iffy in Portland.

And to complicate matters, I know that there can be two different growing zones within mere miles of each other. My yard is in one of the mildest areas of Portland, sandwiched between the two large rivers in the SE part of the city. If I lived even 6 miles further south or east, our winter lows could be as much as ten degrees lower -- true "Zone 8" lows rather than the "Zone 9" lows we actually experience here.

Because of the wide variations in temperature and conditions within any zone, I always ask a lot of questions before giving advice to anyone about what to plant where. Even if we live in the same city, your microclimate could be very different from mine -- but by the same token, we could live thousands of miles apart, but experience very similar growing years.

So give advice freely -- but first find out exactly what the conditions are for the person whom you're advising, and know your plants well enough not to even suggest a plant that will give them "zonal envy".

Love,

Claudia