Lisa, You could be right on the price of the Lemaii; my memory just isn't what it used to be. Since I'm in zone 9, I have to container grow all of my heliconia and put them in the greenhouse this time of year. Psittacorums have been particularly difficult to grow for me; I've had better luck over wintering Sexy Pink than the Psitts. That's why I've avoided "El Tigre" but everytime I see it for sale, the variegated attraction sets in. On the other hand, I've been growing Ae Ae in the ground for 5 years and only lost one (Hurricane Rita) which was scheduled to bloom the following summer (based on age and height). I do wrap the pseudostem when night time temps are predicted to get below 30 but it is more cold hardy than people think. Survived 24 two winters in a row. Steve

Hola Maria, Last winter was very cold in Cordoba (Spain) too. Temperatures dropped and a lot of plants suffered and some of them died. I think, in any case, that it was not a normal winter and it has not influence in my choice of plants. In the protected area where I have the heliconias the temperature dropped to -1ºC/30ºF, with almost no water and with windy protection and the result is the next: H. "Pedro Ortiz": no damage and it is continuing growing now. H. rostrata: light damage it is continuing growing now. H. stricta Dwarf Jamaica: died, at least the aerial part. H. latispatha cv. Distans from rhizome: died, at least the aerial part H. latispatha cv. Red-Yellow Gyro: died, at least the aerial part H. latispatha Distans from seed: no damage and it is continuing growing now. I hate especially the situation with H. latispatha cv. Distans and Red-Yellow Gyro (from rhizome) because I have tried them two times and always they have died when the temperature were not too low. This year they died before the cold waves arrived when the minimal temperatures were 4ºC/39ºC. Their leaves began to curves and the aerial plant die very fast (the substrate was almost dry)). They have new growth in spring from the rhizome but it need two year to flowerï. In any case I will try againï. Hasta luego, Fernando

Sorry, can't add "and a dick" in there, don't have one (BIG BIG HA HA) (whew am I grateful for that!) However I can see it does apply to you. Very self descriptive there, it must be a gift you have. Hey, where've you been? Our landscape up here in the Arctic isn't brown at all! Far from it! Everythings still rocking and rolling up here. Nice and green, stuff blooming all over the place. We haven't been smitten so am still looking at a nice green, not brown, landscape, yessiree. And you misread me, I am not "smug". Truth is, I really don't care about the difference between the temperatures in No and So FL, or if we freeze and you don't, or if I get to grow in a greenhouse and not in the yard. I really don't care if you can grow a Sealing Wax palm outside. I have 2 in the greenhouse and they are very happy. And I am not overly fond of Medillina. I would like to have an Amherstia nobilis, but just don't have space...sigh...so many plants, so little time. The most fun part about this thread for me has been seeing the hair trigger defensive attitude you all have down there. The entertainment value here is, well, seemingly unlimited. You're like the little lap dog, blow on its ear and it snaps. Then you get to laff and jump back and do it again. And see, those "ha ha's" are contagious, aren't they? Just can't stop yourself can ya? (Who's really trying to act smug, here, you gotta ask that about now. Imitation is, well, you know...) Yeah, eggo, I lived in So Cal for an extended period of time. I actually liked it. Weather is generally great there on the West Coast. Lottsa great tattoo shops too. Ohhh and the RESTAURANTS! Ethnic food heaven! Everything you need for fun and games. I happily welcome you to the rogues gallery. We have all the real fun in here, without all the angst. Besides, you SO FL guys are moving up here to my neck of the woods in DROVES! All the homes going up around this area....anything from $300,000-900,000.....the largest percentage are being snatched up by people from South FL who "just can't take it any more" down yonder....too much crime, too much traffic, too crowded....willing to mortgage themselves into oblivion to GET AWAY from SO FL...THANKS! You all are fueling our local economy something fierce and ensuring we have lots of moola to spend on our landscaping! Keep it coming, I have 5 acres to do up!

Hello everybody, In Zone 9B--the uppermost portion I have had good luk with Rostrata & Rauliniana. However, I found the Raulinia more cold tolerant thatn the rostrata. My rostrata is blooming after looking miserable for a few months after that one light freeze we had. The stalks didn't freeze like the leaves did, so I got flowers. The Rauliniana had a little leaf damage and is growing so tall now--about 7 feet--that I predict blooms before September. One heliconia you shoudl try is Lingulata yellow fan, or, red-tip fan--they are compact,blooming at 4 feet tall, and don't seem to care much about light freezes as long as they are mulched well.Mine also bloom on the first years stalks and are blooming right now like crazy. Also, Heliconia sharonii--i have one type of this (I heard there are two and one is larger)is a small one growing to two feet tall and never fails to bloom on the same year's growth. It freezes down to the ground but alsways pops right back up it seems. Very dependable. Many helis can also be grown in large pots, just don;t overpot too soon and let them outgro each pot, repotting to the next size up, other wise they tend to rot--probably because of too mcch water in the container being held below the roots. Pedro Ortiz is also good--if you can wrap the stalks and keep them insulated during the weather below 35, you can get blooms the next year. The plant is pretty cold hardy. Another trick is to keep the cold sensitive ones potted the first year,protect over winter-- then, the second year plant them in the ground so you can get flowers out of these second year bloomers. Hope this helps. Brad