TZ, figs can be risky in zone 7 unless they are close to a house--which probably matches the hardiness results with Trachys in Zone 7. Figs are quite cold sensitive for a deciduous tree (yes, I realize there are tropical deciduous trees, but still). I would not suggest you plant either a Southern Magnolia or a fig too near your house though. Fig roots can do damage to the structure of your house and magnolias are huge trees. I made this mistake years ago. I planted a grandiflora a few feet from the house. --Thinking at the time, the building would help them survive and that they needed this. Wrong on two counts. M. grandiflora will THRIVE in Eastern Zones 6B+ and GROW--they are not the fastest growers (especially for the first three years after planting), but they will inexorably infringe on your house. I felt really bad when that first magnolia had to be removed. So too, the are shallow rooted (not sure if the roots themselves would be a problem). There are more Dwarf varieties (Little Gem), but not sure of long term sustainability too close to a house. Eventually, I bought the proverbial farm and now made good on that cut down Magnolia--I planted over a dozen. Current inventory of cultivars: Brackens Brown--1 Victoria--2 Edith Bogue--3 Little Gem--4 Majestic Beauty--1 Green Giant--1 Teddy Bear--2 PS., Biggest problems with the Magnolias in our area is snow load--esp. as our snows are wet and very HEAVY. Some cultivars seem completely undamaged by heavy snow and ice accumulation, some snap much more easily.

Hunter, Palms arent too common here either! Some of the botanical gardens and zoos are catching on though and a few houses nearby do have palms, but its nothing that you would find too easily (unless you knew where to look). Virginia Beach has tons of palms considering that if you go just a bit north or west, you will barely see any! I think that VB is the farthest north you can go to get that Palmy southern feel (Norfolk, Virginia also has a few palms around and lots of other southern favorites like live oak, crape myrtles, southern magonlias, long leaf pines, camellias, and gardenias so it defintely feels a bit subtropical there as well, but not much futher north or west than that). Also, I doubt the sagos survived. It was a cold winter and even during a warm winter, they arent usually expected to survive (unless they have protection). Islandbreeze, the trunk and fronds on that palm looked a bit trachycarpus like to me, but they do look similar when very young, especially when there is a ton of vegetation covering most of the plant. Chadec, I will have to check that agave out! Do you have it and if you do, did it survive the winter? -Alex

This year I found a 'maurelii' banana at the local nursery so have a couple along with my musa basjoos in pots and flower beds. I also found a musa zebrina (blood banana) but I really don't think it's liking full sun. Interesting though, there's an impatien plant in the same pot that's doing well in full sun. My cavendish banana from last year is indoors as a houseplant and seems to be doing much better, I guess it didn't really like full sun when it was outside. I bought an 'improved meyer' lemon and so far so good (nice growth). My spindle palm is about to open it's only new leaf of the summer. My bismarck and fan palm from last year are only former versions of themselves (from growing indoors in poor light for the winter) but are back outdoors and doing good. My latest thinking, with this cool summer, is to analyze tropical plants that seem to do good no matter what the summer. The moonflower, morning glory, persian shield, begonias, nicotiana, petunias and even easy-to-grow marigolds seem to be doing fine. I am coming to the conclusion that my mandevilla is growing so slowly that it's not really worth the effort especially in a cool summer. It's only two feet high and not really filling out a trellis. Every gardener can probably relate to planting something, giving it a prime location and hoping it makes a big impact, and then have it just sit there and do nothing. I also have my rubber plant growing outside for the summer and am trying a Wollemi pine - I just had to have it. Part of my thinking for this year was that summer, even when we have nice summers, are so short. Therefore for alot of my plants I started with ones growing in a pot (example morning glory) rather than start from seed. Happy tropical gardening, Glen

Image by: Clare_CAMichelia Figo var. SkinnerianaWhich Shrubs Smell Good? -     Fragrant Plants       The following list of fragrant plants was compiled by Clare_CA.  Please note, this list is considered a work in progress with additional fragrant plants added over time.       Plant Name Abelia mosanensis ‘bridal bouquet,’ fragrant abelia Abelia trilora Acidanthera, 'Peacock orchid' Agastache ‘Summer Breeze’ Agastache foeniculum Anise Hyssop Aglaia odorata Aloysia virgatas, Sweet Almond Azara microphylla Beaumontia grandiflora Blanc Double de Coubert rugosas Boronia Boronia megastigma Brassavola nodosa (Lady of the Night orchid) Brugmansia Brunfelsia americana Brunfelsia australis Brunfelsia Nitida (Lady of the Night) Brunfelsia pauciflora Buddleia Asiatica Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush Cananga odorata Carolina allspice, Calycanthus sp. Centaurea moschata Sweet Sultan (Annual) Cestrum diurnum Cestrum nocturum Chimonanthus praecox Chlidanthus fragrans Perfumed Fairy Lily (Bulb) Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl,’ Aztec Pearl Mexican Orange Choysia ternata, Mexican Mock Orange Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' Citrus (esp. ‘Bouquet de Fleurs’) Citrus (tree) Clematis Montana Clematis, Sweet Autumn Clematis Clerodendron phillipinum Clerodendrum trichotomum Clethra alnifolia Clethra 'Ruby Spice' Coleonema pulchrum/Breath of Heaven Crinum odorata Crinum powellii and C. moorei Daphne bholua Daphne 'Carol Mackie' Daphne odora Datura Inoxia Datura Metel Datura Stramonium var Tatula Datura wrightii Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’  Diplarrhena moraea ‘Slieve Donard,’ White Flag Iris Dipogon lignosus Diurnum Double Delight - Hybrid Tea Rose Dracaena fragans Eriodictyon capitatum Lompoc Yerba Santa Erysimum cheiri, Wallflower  (Annual) Eupatorium ligustrinum Euphorbia leucocephala Freesia (Bulb) Gardenia angusta Gardenia 'White Gem' Gladiolus callianthus Abyssinian Sword Lily (Bulb) Gladiolus tristis Marsh Afrikaner (Bulb) Hansa - Rugosa Rose Hedychium coronaria, common white ginger Hedychium coronarium Hedychium flavescens/gardnerianum/flavum/coronarium Hedychium gardnerianum is an outstanding ginger lily. Hedysarum coronarium French Honeysuckle Helichrysum (Licorice plant) Hemerocallis ‘Fragrant Treasure,’ Frangrant Treasure Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion,’ Hyperion Daylily Hemerocallis ‘Sherwood Gladiator,’ Sweet Gladiator Daylily Hemerocallis citrina, Lemon Daylily Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, Lemon Lily Hemerocallis minor, Dwarf Daylily Holarrhena densiflora (Jasmine Tree) Hoya lacunosa Hyacinths, Nicotiana, oriental lilies, and easter lilies Hymenocallis ‘Erotica’ Fragrant Basket Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis ‘Sulphur Queen’ Sulphur Queen B. Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis ‘Tropical Giant’ Hybrid Basket Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis narcissiflora (+ ‘Advance’) Peruvian Daffodil (Bulb) Hymenocallis x festalis ‘Zwanenburg’ Primrose Spider Lily (Bulb) Hymenocallis x festalis Spider Lily (Bulb) Hymenosporum flavum, Australian Frangipani, Sweetshade (tree) Illicium Floridanum Jasmine molle Jasminum Azoricum Jasminum humile, Italian/Yellow Jasmine Jasminum officinale, Poet’s Jasmine Jasminum polyanthum, Pink/Winter Jasmine Jasminum Sambac Flore Plena Jasminum Sambac, Belle of India Jasminum Sambac, Grand Duke Jasminum Sambac, Maid of Orleans Jasminum x stephanense, Stephan Jasmine Lathyrus odoratus, Sweet Pea (Annual) Laurus nobilis, Grecian Bay Laurel (tree) Lavandula, Lavenders (many) Lepechinia hastata, Baja Pitcher Sage Leptospermum petersonii,  Lemon-scented Tea Tree (tree) Lillium "Le Reve" Lobularia maritima, Sweet Alyssum (Self-sowing Annual) Lonicera Lonicera japonica Luculia intermedia/pinceana-Luculia Luculia pinceana/intermedia/gratissimus Madame Isaac Pereire, Antique Rose Magnolia ‘Timeless Beauty’ (tree) Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia (tree) Magnolia hypoleuca Magnolia salicifolia ‘Kockanakee’ (tree) Magnolia salicifolia ‘W.B. Clarke’ (tree) Magnolia seiboldii, Oyama Magnolia Magnolia stellata, Star Magnolia Magnolia Virginiana Magnolia x loebneri ‘Ballerina’ (tree) Magnolia x loebneri ‘Spring Snow’ (tree) Magnolia x stellata ‘Royal Star’ (tree) Magnolia x stellata ‘Waterlily’ (tree) Magnolia x wieseneri Mandevilla laxa Matthiola incana, Stock (Annual) Matthiola longipetala bicornis, Evening-scented Stock (Annual) Melanoselinum decipiens Michelia champaca Michelia chapensis Michelia doltsopa  Michelia figo, Banana Shrub Michelia Wilsonii (sinensis) Michelia x alba Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ (tree) Milletia reticulata Mirabilis, Four o'clocks Mitriostigma Axillare or African Gardenia Montanoa grandiflora, Narcissus jonquilla ‘Kinglet’, ‘Sweetness’, ‘Vireo’Jonquil (Bulb) Narcissus papyraceus, Paper Whites (Bulb) Narcissus tazetta, Narcissus (Bulb) Narcissus x odorus, Campernelle Jonquil (Bulb) Nicotiana alata Nicotiana sylvestris Orchid Vanda merillii Osmanthus fragrans, Sweet Olive Passiflora Alata “Ruby Glow” Passiflora belotti Passiflora colinvauxii (honeysuckle fragrance) Passiflora helleri Passiflora Incense Passiflora serratodigitata Passiflora sprucei Pelargonium , Scented Geraniums (all*) -- Pelargonium ‘Filicifolium’  Balsam Pelargonium ‘Tutti-Fruiti’ Tutti-Fruiti Pelargonium capitatum ‘Attar of Roses’ Old Rose Pelargonium crispum ‘Peach Cream’ Peach Pelargonium crispum ‘Prince of Orange’ Orange Pelargonium crispum Lemon Pelargonium graveolens ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ Lemon-rose Pelargonium graveolens Rose Pelargonium grossularioides Coconut Pelargonium nervosum ‘Torento’ Ginger Pelargonium nervosum Lime Pelargonium odoratissimum, Apple Pelargonium quercifolium, Pelargonium Almond Pelargonium scabrum ‘M. Ninon’ Apricot Pelargonium scarboravia Strawberry Pelargonium tomentosum ‘Chocolate Joy’ Chocolate-mint Pelargonium tomentosum Peppermint Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Nutmeg’ Nutmeg Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Old Spice’ Old Spice Philadelphus ‘Fallbrook’, ‘Galahad’ Mock Orange Philadelphus microphyllus Small-leaved Mock Orange Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Glacier’ Dwarf Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Japanese Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Mock Orange Pittosporum undulatum, Victorian Box Plumeria (tree) Polianthes tuberosa, Tuberose (Bulb) Portulandia grandiflora Primula florindae, the Tibetan Primrose Prospero & Golden Celebration - David Austin Roses Psoralea pinnata Quisqualia indica, Rangoon Creeper Reseda odorata Mignonette  (Annual) Rhododendron atlanticum fragrance of gardenia and clove Ribes aureum, Golden Currant  Rosas Typhoo Tea Rose, (The Apothecary Rose; deep pink) Rose, Angel Face (floribunda; mauve) Rose, Apricot Nectar (floribunda; apricot blend) Rose, Arizona (grandiflora; orange blend) Rose, Betty Prior (floribunda; medium pink) Rose, Buff Beauty (Hybrid Musk; apricot blend) Rose, Cathedral (floribunda; apricot blend) Rose, Chinatown (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Chrysler Imperial (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Command Performance (HT; orange-red) Rose, Comte de Chambord (Portland; pink blend) Rose, Crimson Glory (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Dainty Bess (HT; light pink; single) Rose, Double Delight (HT; red-white bicolor) Rose, Electron (HT; deep pink) Rose, Etoile de Holland (HT; also cl.; crimson) Rose, Evelyn (English; apricot-pink blend) Rose, Fashion (floribunda; orange-pink blend) Rose, Fragrant Cloud (HT; coral red-orange blend) Rose, Fragrant Hour (HT; orange-pink blend) Rose, François Dubreuil (Tea; dark red) Rose, Friendship (HT; deep pink) Rose, Granada/Donatella (HT; red-yellow blend) Rose, High Hopes (climber; med. pink) Rose, Intrigue (floribunda; mauve blend) Rose, Ispahan (Damask; medium pink) Rose, Jacques Cartier (Portland; light pink) Rose, Jadis (HT; pink) Rose, Just Joey (HT, orange blend) Rose, Lemon Spice (HT; pale yellow) Rose, Love (Gr.; red blend) Rose, Marechal Niel (cl. Noisette; softest yellow) Rose, Mirandy (HT; garnet red) Rose, Mister Lincoln (HT; dark red) Rose, Nuage Parfumé (HT; also cl.; coral-orange-red blend) Rose, Oklahoma (HT; deep red) Rose, Papa Meilland (HT; deep crimson) Rose, Perfume Delight (HT; medium pink) Rose, Rosa gallica officinalis/duplex Rose, Rosa gallica versicolor (Gallica; striped pink) Rose, Rosa x damascena bifera (Damask, Rose of Castile; m. pink) Rose, Royal Amethyst (HT; lavender) Rose, Saratoga (floribunda; white) Rose, Sheer Bliss (HT; white/pink blend) Rose, Simplicity (floribunda; light pink) Rose, Spanish Sun (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Spartan (floribunda; orange-red blend) Rose, Sunsprite (floribunda; deep yellow) Rose, Sutter’s Gold (HT; orange blend) Rose, Sweet Surrender (HT; silvery med. pink) Rose, Tiffany (HT; pink blend) Rose, White Lightnin’ (GR; white) Rose, Wild Spice (shrub) Rosmarinus officinalis Salvia clevelandii Salvia clevelandii 'Aromas' Salvia clevelandii/Cleveland Sage Salvia elegans, Pineapple Sage Salvia melissodora Grape-scented Sage Sarcococca Hookeriana Humilis Sarcococca rustifolia Scentimental, Hybrid Tea Solandra maxima Sombreuil climbing antique Stephanotis floribunda Sweet Afton Sweet Chariot - miniature "hanging basket" rose Syringa microphylla 'Superba' Tagetes nelsonii, Citrus Marigold Telosma cordata, Pakalana Vine Thornless Honey Locust-Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis Tilia cordata, Little Leaf Linden Trachelospermum jasminoides, Star Jasmine Ugni molinae, Chilean Guava Umbellularia californica California Bay Laurel (tree) Verbena x hybrida ‘Defiance,’ Defiance Verbena Viburnum carlesi 'Compactum' Viburnum Carlesii (clove scent) Viburnum, Korean Spice Viola Odora Weigela florida 'Variegata nana' Wild clover, Melilotus alba Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox Wisteria