AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
Question We just purchased Plumbago bushes in New Jersey to plant in our Yardley, Pa
garden. We are confused by the information on whether or not they will
survive cold winters. It seems they are a tropical plant. These ARE NOT
ground cover plants, but the full grown bushes with bright blue five-petal
flowers. The tag says they will grow 4 to 6 ft. tall. We will return them if you
say they won't survive. Thank you so much. Richard.
Answer Hi Richard,
Check out the link below. It has some images of the Cape Plumbago, Plumbago auriculata.
If this is your plant, it is not hard in Pennsylvania. It is only hardy to Zone 8B which would be in the Gulf South and Southern Arizona, South Texas, etc. It is originally from South Africa.
