That is a great example of microclimates JoJo! The time spent at the minimum temperature (minutes, hours, days) plays a big role in what temperatures a plant can survive. So does the amount of water in the plant, and in the soil. Dry plants are much more tolerant of cold compared to wet plants. Plants in the ground can survive colder temperatures than plants in pots. I have found most of my plants can tolerate much lower temperatures than typically listed. These lows are brief, just a few hours at most, and it's at least 20 degrees warmer during the day. So plants that are supposed to not go below the mid-thirties F can tolerate minimum temperatures in the high twenties. Agave ferdinand-regis is listed at both +5, and -12 in the list above. The difference between a minimum average temperature, absolute minimum temperature, and Fahrenheit and Celsius scales is often confused. Minimum temperature listings should be regarded with great suspicion, even when coming from a more or less credible source like Desert-Tropicals. It is better to research the plants natural environmental conditions. I would not give much credence to this, or any other so called 'minimum temperature' list. There are too many variables for these to be accurate to any degree. ;) Brad

Some really neat links there!

As I have tried to make clear previously, I don't dispute that high P levels are relatively more toxic to Proteaceae than to other plant families, but I do believe that many rainforest grevilleas are less susceptible than WA species. Again its a relative thing, and I have certainly found one that isn't. A landscape supplier dumped a truckload of potting mix in my garden, close to some trees but about 6 metres from a G. baileyana. Some months afterwards it died, and on digging up the mix it was full of proteoid roots! Retrospectively, I have realised I have had a much higher proteaceae failure rate since using that mix, so I must find out what's in it. The seller told me it was fine for natives - you'd think that at my age I'd know better than to trust a salesperson, but my problem is I can remember back when most of them were trustworthy. Tony

Hi "Cave dweller"! Try to find in a nursery,or seeds this wonderful tree named "Chilopsis linearis"(desert willow)! Tree to about 10m high,with very nice and fragant orchid like flowers,you won't regreat it! Mine has 1.50m and i never give it water! Have a look on the web! phil