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Know Your Plants' Character

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

Some plants are Terminators, able to take an all-night thrashing and still look handsome in the morning.
Loropetalum chinense - a favorite of landscaper Mike Dickens, who says they stand up to the cold, fungus and pests. The tallest varieties have green leaves with blush-colored tips; the shorter they grow, the deeper burgundy their color. All have pink flowers.
Indian hawthorne - Evergreen shrubs that can tolerate the seaside, too

Liriope - Ornamental grass
Viburnum - Shrubs and small trees that produce sweet-smelling blossoms

Crape myrtle - Shrubs to tall trees that are very cold-hardy and produce vibrant blooms in season

Ligustrum - Evergreen shrubs and specimen trees
Anything in a container that can be brought indoors

Many plants are Scarlett O'Haras. Beautiful in the best of times, they may look battered by frost or freeze but make a great comeback when cut down to size - after March 15.

Jatropha - Shrubs or trees with small, bright red blossoms

Crotons - Colorful shrubs available in many varieties

Snowbushes - Round shrubs with colorful foliage
Gingers - Lots of varieties

Pentas - Old-fashioned crimsons are especially hardy.

Firebush - Hardy shrubs with large leaves and red blossoms; they often grow too large to cover

Ti plants

And then we have the Cathy Earnshaws, those so like the tragically conflicted romantic in Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights." They're just doomed.

Foxtail palm

Alexander palm - Dickens discourages anyone in the Bay area from even trying them.

Impatiens and other annuals - They turn to mush.

Sources: Marina D'Abreau, Hillsborough Extension horticulture agent; Mike Dickens of Mike's Premier Landscape Services in Zephyrhills; Fred Colagiovanni of Tropical Landscape Solutions in Sarasota

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