You should be able to grow most gingers where you are. I have a similar climate here in Queensland and none of my gingers go dormant. Most Costus should do well along with the many varieties of Zingiber spectabile (Zingiber zerumbet goes dormant), Etlingera Torch Gingers, Alpinia, Hedychium, Tapeinochilos. None of these plants will go dormant and die down in winter. Andrew.

I'm in Drayton Valley, AB, Canada (central AB bit SW of Edmonton). It will be getting to be -34C tonight. This is the second cold blast we got (polar vortex?) this winter so far. Then it will be getting mild again soon. I think there is a limited choice of plants that will grow here. We are officially zone 2 Canadian hardiness. It can get much colder here. Last winter came in brutal....burning bushes got severe dieback after being here 3 years....winter came in with brutal winds and -25C right at the beginning and shocked the borderline hardy plants. However, I do have a zone 5 Royal Purple smokebush I completely cover with snow and it does well....only the third year coming up and had small dieback the first winter. I've learned to cover pretty much everything but the natives (spruce trees, pines, willows, etc). So tempting to try borderline hardy plants here due to lack of choice. Sorry for hijacking thread. :) And thank you gardengal for the info. Can't blame me for trying, lol. However, I do have the Explorer roses (John Davis) and they survived last winter beautifully, even with that cold shock first thing. Truly zone 2 roses, and they bloomed crazy all summer. And am trying hydrangeas too. Annabelle grows fine, and getting Pee Gee this year. Should be fine from what I heard. But SOOOO tempted by the big leafs......

Hi korryzn, To address your question, I was wondering what state you live in? Since you live in zone5a, which I also do, I am going to assume you get a very cold winter, right? I ask, because the only thing I can think of is this, your plumerias are in a location that is still giving them too much light. Maybe if next time, you almost give them complete darnkess, they will sleep as you wish. They are still resting though, even though you are getting a leaf here or there. In fact, I have some on my property in the Carribean that push leaves out all winter, although to the native people, they are still in rest mode. They are not actively growing. They are ugly, and just bare with a few leaves on top. Yet, even after leafing out a bit all winter, they still grow georgous flowers come spring time. Many here grow their plumies all winter, and yet get inflo's come spring. Be very careful that you do not let them dry out to severe, since they are still active, because if you do, they will dehydrate past the point of bringing them back, once givin a drink. I did that to two of mine already. Actually, I forgot about them and they havn't had a drink for a month. Once I watered, it didn't matter,they were already hollowed out! The ones that I have watered are still fine, even though they are resting. I was also curious as to where you would normally summer them? Are they kept outdoors? Indoors? Out doors they will be fine, as long as they are in a fast draining soil with all the rain you fear. The location, and Bills suggestions about fertilizer, might just to the trick, even if they have been leafing out for you to flower.. Mike

Karen- First I find that a plant that blooms will split into 2-4 new branches which may or may not bloom next year. I frankly have not paid that much attention to which branches bloom and which do not each year, but I find the thought interesting. I prune to shape and control. If the Cerise and the Intense Rainbow are growing into each others space, I prune to create the boundries. Since I have about 25 large plants in hedges along my property line, I need to settle boundry disputes among plants. Some plants I prune growth outward to allow clear walkways and force the plants upwards. Some pruning is just to allow more plants to occupy close quarters. I soon will need to learn more from Bud Guillott who is the master of pruning; He has 15 year old plants that are 4" in diameter but just 6' tall because he prunes to keep his flowers near the ground and to control overall plant width growth. Since a pruned branch will not flower until 2 years, he staggers his pruning so he always has some branches flowering each year. As your plants mature, you find that you have more and more cutings from pruning. This year I started 167 cut branches which many I gave to schools, civic gardens or to friends. Hope that makes sense. Bill Karyn- I wanted to share a pic of "C" dog who is filling the space left by "T" Chelsea is a fantastic dog as far as markings and disposition. She is a real kid pleaser and does not mess with the plumies- smart! Bill