COLD HARDY
PLANTS
Growers and Breeders of Unusual Cold Hardy
Plants |
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Ruschia rupicola
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Quantity
of plants tested: 2
Size of plant tested: 1st year seedlings which were started from seed
in May 2001.
Soil texture: sandy loam covered with peastone granite.
When planted: the plants were planted in the ground in June 2000.
Winter protection: none
Microclimate: warm microclimate, approximately 3 feet off a
south facing wall.
Temperature: refer to 2000-2001 winter on this chart
Findings: one plant died, and the other plant suffered major burn
and rot, but survived and quickly grew into a nice looking specimen plant
by June and even flowered off and on from July through September. |
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September
4, 2000 - This photo shows the size of the plants as of September
4, 2000. This is a first year seedling which was started in
May 2000. |
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December
23, 2000 - here's one of the plants as of December 23, 2000.
The plant is showing signs of failure already. The low without snow
cover has been 5F so far. December 2000 was a very cold month which
had many days with highs below 32F. |
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December
29, 2000 - this photo shows the plant a few days later on December 29,
2000. December 25th was a cold day with highs only in the teens and
the low dropped to 6F. |
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January
27, 2001 - this photo shows the plant as of January 27, 2001.
The plant was snow covered from December 30 through January 8 and from
January 21 through January 25. The low temperature so far has still
been 5F (without snow cover). |
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August
14, 2001 - here's the plant as of August 14, 2001. As you can
see, it is doing very well with much new growth. The flowers are
small 1/2" diameter purple-pink flowers which close up at
night. The habit is somewhat shrubby. |
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September
27, 2001 - The photo shows one of the flowers. They are
approximately 1/2" in diameter and have been blooming from June but
generally only 2 to 3 flowers at a time. |
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May
2002 - here's one of the plants in May with many flowers. |
