I am not trying to be argumentative, Mark. I have been a novice trader and so have you, and have been lead to believe a plant was 'easy', when it wasn't - I was out a plant AND money. I was just being honest with my experiences in trying to root these cuttings, so a newby wouldn't be upset if he/she traded for the cutting and it did rot. I was merely mentioning that this cutting is not as easy as it sounds to root. You are turning this into a negative when it is meant to be a positive. WHY would this information NOT be relevant? Are you telling me you wouldn't want to know if the possibility existed that it could rot instead of root?

Thanks for the posts, everyone. Bahia, it turns out that I have exactly the location you suggest: coastal influence, and even with the killer freeze (ice in my birdbaths), only a touch of damage hit my bananas, mango, and iochroma. I swear the grevilleas got brighter red, and none of the aussies were damages by mid-20s temps - much to my relief. I'm a big fan of Buena Creek, and was out there last week. They got hit pretty hard, as did their suppliers, and I suspect they'll restock in time for their Spring sale. They've got the best demo gardens around, including the awe-inspiring hillside full of proteas, grass trees, and a 15' pencil cactus - all of which survives on benign neglect. Another location with excellent botanical gardens is the Wild Animal Park, with a section devoted to Aussie natives - protea, leuco* and leuca*, banksias, stenocarpus and some amazing Silver trees (Leucodendron argentum). I swung by Anderson's La Costa yesterday, now that they've recovered from the powerful windstorm that destoyed their greenhouses - I've always admired and appreciated the vast selection they offer, and they've really got a sweet assortment of Aussies (Leuco*, Leuca*, net bush, silver tree, grevilleas). I've got a wide selection of grevilleas already (Gilt Dragon is my fav, and doesn't scratch), and a weakness for Leucospermum, which are curiously ignored by the hummingbirds. Leucadendron 'Jester' is eye-popping, and "more silver' put out yellow cones this spring. Every banksia died on me - maybe too much coastal influence - sigh. I've never seen Hakea, Kunzea, Dryandra or one of the various flame peas growing in this area, and I'm thinking of getting seeds to give it a try. Anyone have luck with that approach? ...diana

With 6 foot wide hell strips, you can easily mound up to about 6/8" at the center and still keep flatter areas 6 inches wide adjacent the curb and sidewalk. I also would consider running 3 parallel drip emitter lines throughout the strip for best plant appearance. For areas to be walked on, you can't beat ground covers such as Dymondia, which fills in thickly and easily takes light foot traffic. Al makes a good point that it is better to keep plants lower at the curb side so you dont block car doors swinging out, or only use tougher plants there that can takes some abuse without being smashed if your corner lot sees heavier parking.I like using lots of lower growing but spreading succulents for mass coverage at hell strips. Some of the easiest might include Bulbine frutescens and B. frutescens 'Hallmark', Cotyledon orbiculata and C. macrantha, Senecio mandraliscae, Sedum 'Angelina', Aeoniums of all types, particularly A. arborescens, canariensis, haworthii, clumping Aloes such as maculata, nobilis, and many others. For foliage contrast to succulents, I like using things like Festuca glauca, Coleonema 'Sunset Gold', dwarfed growing Phormiums such as Jester, some of the hardier sun tolerant landscape bromeliads such as Puya mirabilis and Dyckia platyphylla. You could also combine some foliage color with things like Libertia ixioides 'Goldfinger' or Aristea inaequalis or Cordyline 'Festival Grass'. South African bulbous things like Sparaxis, Freesias, Ixias, Watsonias, Dieramas, Tulbaghias, all work well in sunny hell strips as well. Some full proof flowering herbaceous things to consider might include Alstroemeria 'Ligtu Hybrids', Anigozanthus flavidus cultivars such as Harmony or Tequila Sunrise, Lobelia laxiflora, and virtually everblooming flowers such as Valerian/Centranthus ruber, (but keep this last one dead headed before it turns to seed or it will self sow everywhere). I've combined some of the smaller growing Protea family members in wide hell strips as well. If you don't mind a few shrubs to 4~5' tall, look into some of the Grevilleas, Leucospermum cordifolium cultivars, Leucadendron salignum 'Summer Red', Isopogon formosus to name a few. Some of the South African restios such as Chondropetalum tectorum or Thamnochortus are also good.

Hi, I have become interested in South African and Australian plants. I have: Dombeya Cacuminun Barleria lupulina Berzelia galpinii Isopogon formosus Passiflora tetandra Telopea speciosissima I haven't tried Leucodendron though. It is interesting how some of them are totally different species like Barleria lupulina, but resembles a Cassia. Dombeya Cacuminun grows similar to a royal poinciana, I don't know if these similarities to Florida plants would help them adapt.. I have researched this topic and gardeners in California seem to be successfully growing some of these plants. The Australian natives seem to prefer a warm Mediterranean climate, and overfertilizing and overwatering seem to do them in. I have just started my collection, but so far, so good with my plants. The data varies on the hardiness zones, I think since they haven't been introduced widely some nurseries estimate.