Tradescantia sillamontana - a surprisingly cold hardy tropical annual

Tradescantia sillamontana is so much more cold tolerant than I expected. I figured it would only survive in a mild spot in the garden, but these are popping up right next to my lawn which is very cold and wet all winter. Although they’re sold

as annuals, they can definitely take some cold  

Oct 2020

These photos from my parents yard shows what T. Sillamontana looks like as a trailing container plant.

Oct 2 2021

My home depot peony roots are blooming!

 This variety is called Bartzella. It's an itoh peony which is an intersectional peony (a cross between a tree peony and herbaceous peony). A huge benefit is they don't flop over! 
I got this as a root in Mid-March 2023 and it actually produced a bloom that same year. This year I got 2 blooms. Whoa baby! 

First Pool Day of 2024!

 And what a beautiful pool day it was at my parents house on Staten Island! 

I moved my giant Black Knight Ti plants from the entrance to my parents backyard toward the pool and I am LOVING the pop of color. I also added a few ti plants near the Trachycarpus palms for a little extra tropical flare. 

Both Trachycarpus are blooming this year along with my Florida Anise illicium

The Wisteria and gardenia are looking nice!

A little burn on the Adondila palm from the sun, but not bad overall! 

The Gold Struck Rose has been in this container for a few years. When I got it from the nursery the trunk was BURIED in soil and I left it that way, but I decided it was time to repot it to properly align the soil with its root line. It was so happy it made its biggest flower ever!

My favorite bloom in my parents yard right now! Bletilla striata aka Hardy Ground Orchid blooms in May!

I'm loving this begonia!

I got this Ensete for 40 dollars because the leaves were broken. I felt that was more reasonable than the $90 original price. It will grow back quickly!

My Rhododendron is in full bloom!

I love my tropical plants, but when my rhododendron is in bloom, it absolutely steals the show! It's a classic springtime shrub on Long Island, but it's bloom time is so short that it really is incredibly special.

 

Although these temperate rhododendron don't have the same climate requirements as much tropicals, they do look great together! 

Old Man Palm and Bismarkia couldn't be prettier! I'm really happy that they haven't had any sunburn this season after their winter inside the house. 

My ponderosa lemon living it's best life

Thanks for looking!

My Banana Collection - Post will update monthly!

Musa Sikkimensis 

    This was a purchase from Plant Delights in Summer 2022. It overwintered in the garage this year and is the second fastest to sprout back. 

May 17

June 20

May 17

July 1

Ensete Maurelii

    This was a purchase in fall 2022 on clearance. It overwintered in the garage is and always the fasted to sprout back! 

May 17

June 20

July 1

Musa ?

    (It was sold as Veinte Cohol but probably a different variety) It overwintered in the house. I separated it's pups and accidentally damaged the top of the stem and had to cut it back down to about 5 feet tall. 

May 17

June 26

Musa Velutina 

    I puchased this in Miami this Spring. I think it could have been mislabeled and is instead Veinte Cohol. Time will tell! 

May 17

June 26

Musa Siam Ruby

    This was purchased from a local nursery last May. It did okay indoors but it has struggled outside. It was also very challenging to start last year and really needs heat to get its footing. 

May 17

July 1

July 15

Musa Basjoo

    This was it's first winter and although it was mild, it did die to the ground. 

May 17

June 2

July 1

Musa Sumantra

    Another purchase from Miami! The stem broke in half during transport, but it's growing out of it. 

May 17

June 26

Musa Thai Black

    This was a pup without roots and is really slow to start growing. It's pushing out a leaf now though! 

   May 17

July 1 - Not even 1 leaf. Yikes!

Musa Ae Ae 

May 17

July 1 - 2 tiny leaves Also yikes