COLD HARDY
PLANTS
Growers and Breeders of Unusual Cold Hardy
Plants |
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Aloe striatula
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Quantity
of plants tested: 2 during 1999-2000, 3 during 2000-2001
Size of plant tested: 1st year seedlings the 99-00 winter, 2nd
year plants during the 00-01 winter.
Soil texture: sandy loam and covered stone mulch.
When planted: the plants were planted in the ground in August 1999
and spring 2000.
Winter protection: leaf mulch on one of the plants, the other was
partially covered by a plastic tarp during the winter but snow and some
rain did hit the plant. No protection was used during the 00-01
winter.
Microclimate: warm microclimate, one was 2" from a south
facing wall while the other was 2 feet from a south facing wall.
During the 00-01 winter, all three were 6 inches from a south facing wall.
Temperature: refer to 1999-2001 winter on this chart
Findings: one plant survived the 99-00 winter, no plants survived
the 00-01 winter. |
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September
1999 - This photo shows the size of the plants as in September 2000. |
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February
24, 2000 - here's one of the plants on February 24, 2000. It
appears dead and it was. This one did not come back from the roots. |
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March
30, 2000 - this photo shows the plant which survived this winter.
Notice how early in the season it started to grow back. |
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May
6, 2000 - this photo shows the survivor as of May 6, 2001. |
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August
19, 2000 - here's the plant as of August 19, 2000, looking pretty
good. |
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November
27, 2000 - Here's the same plant after a few cold nights. We
have seen 12F, 14F, and 14F so far this season. It seemed to handle
the upper teens pretty well, but it's damaged now. All the plants
died after this past winter. This one will need lots of mulch to
keep it alive. |
