Finding Florida Plants in North Carolina - Part II

Native plants are considered trendy right now in the heat of our water conservation issues, but did you realize that native plants are not classified as being drought tolerant? That's because a native plant can also be a wetland plant. So when planting natives you must consider their moisture needs and if the soil is native soil. Just because a plant is native to Florida doesn't mean it's native to your new home site. But some plants can tolerate wider range of conditions and preservation of native plants is necessary. Bartram's Ixis, Calydorea coelestina (named after the famous American naturalist who catalogued thousands of wildflowers and native vegetation on his Eastern Appalachian trailblazing) is a delicate, deep purple flower that only blooms until noon each day. A member of the Iris family, this graceful blossom is native to pine flatlands and moist wetland conditions. I was surprised to find this protected plant, endemic to one county in North Florida available for sale in North Carolina. I didn't have to think for more than a second and it was my plant cart. Zoned 7-10 and will only grow to 6", it's doing splendidly in my backyard.

How many more great flowers and shrubs could I fit in my convertible tracker? I only get to visit North Carolina and these once-in-a-lifetime nurseries, so I wanted to fill every corner of the car. I tucked into the floor varieties of plants that you just don't see for sale normally in Florida garden centers? Why not? Kniphofia 'Cobra' (Red Hot Poker), Acanthus 'Summer Beauty' (Bear's breech), Ilex Crenata, 'Sky Pencil' Japanese Holly, and a new cultivar of Nandina Domestica, 'Sienna Sunrise' supposedly will grow in zones 9. We will find out.

Let me catch my breath, wash my hands and knees, and fix dinner then I can tell you what other blossom beauties I brought back to the Sunshine State.

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