Hi drcindy. I have about 6 types of Abutilon, and they all came through the winter with just some minor leaf burn. I do realize winter is not over yet, but so far, so good. I am not home right now, but when I get over there, I will post a couple of pics, as well as the names of the varieties. Here is a link to some photos taken after the last freeze. I can't remember if there are any Abutilon or not. I do know there is a picture of Acacia dealbata seedlings, and Banksia marginata(from seed planted in yard in 1997) that have taken the weather with stride without any help from me. In fact I all the plants there are on thier own during the winters. Take care. -Brian Here is a link that might be useful: Some Yard Pics-Acacia, Eucalyptus, etc....

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/JohnKugen/SAM_0035.jpg I got to this event early, this is what I picked up from Ian,from left to right, Banksia marginata,three Grevillea, juiperian v sulphurea, another one that I thought I had the tag to but didn't, and miqueliana, and three Callistemon, Eleanor,Woodlander's Hardy, and saligus. http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/JohnKugen/SAM_0034.jpg I hit the jack pot with Cistus Nursery. On the left is a Fatsia polycarpa which the owner, Sean(sp?) said is hardier than F. japonica. Then a Schefflera delavayi. I bought one from them three years ago and it hasn't suffered any set backs from all three hard winters, so I thought I would try another one. Then a Olearia xmollis 'Zennorensis' and a NW native from eastern Washington/Oregon: Chamaebatearia millefolium. The last one smelled good, the deciding factor in its purchase. It is still open tomorrow, Sunday. I bought plants from other nurseries and probably would have bought more, except my wife put the brakes on my spending. I'm like a kid at a candy store with these sales. It's getting so bad many of these vendors know me by looks if not by name. This sale is a lot of fun for someone like me, don't miss it.

Thanks for the feedback. I have had a good look on the web and have ordered some chelated iron (which also contains magnesium) and will give them a foliar spray. It seems that the worse thing to do is to be too kind to them and fertilise them. However they can suffer from iron and it seems magnesium deficiencies. Our soil is sandy and light so it is well drained. Have bought and planted some banksias from an English nursery that specialises in them (The Old Walled Garden in Kent) and they are surviving well, although one of them is looking a little yellow (*gulp*) so I'll go down the iron/magnesium and no added fertiliser route. If this works then I'll have a go at some more seeds. The mix that I started them off in was a mixture of sand, potting compost and perlite, roughly thirds. Thanks for the help and encouragement.

Nice to see these plants. In my ridiculously cold climate (for anyone trying to grow Aussie plants!) G. juniperina and G. victoriae were hardy for the mild years from about 2007-2013. Essentially no injury with fairly brief drops to 7-13F...a few days not a few weeks at those temps! But the problem with the latter was it would try to bloom in winter, which was hopeless. Nevertheless it got to be a huge 6' bush. G. juniperina was more like 3' tall but wide spreading. But then the back to back "polar vortex" winters happened 2013-2015. Months on end of temps stuck below freezing. I think G. victoriae was taken out by the first, and G. juniperina was finished by the second. Neither was in a very sheltered spot, only somewhat sheltered. Now trying G. 'Poorinda Leane', a hybrid of those 2, in my most sheltered spot. (where Ceanothus 'Concha' used to be which - yep you guessed it - was also finished off by the polar winters, but had been a more dubious performer overall; blooming well when it could but dying back more often, and clearly somewhat unhappy with the humidity here, which was not the case with the Grevilleas. Some species of which can grow as far south as SC and GA....and even Florida in the case of G. robusta) This one blooms between its parents, in early spring, so it looks like it will make an effective display here. Just started last year, but will put on a good show this year if - fingers crossed - we don't have a major cold outbreak or late freeze. (and no, I won't be adding any super-phosphate to that one if it does not bloom well, hahaha)