I planted Mexican Heather back in the spring thinking it was a perennial in my area (Zone 8). I just read it is considered a perennial only through Zone 9. Any suggestions of what I might try, other than applying pinestraw, to keep it living through the winter? I have way too many to dig up.
Mulching it really well is my best suggestion. And leave the foliage on it until early spring when new growth starts and then trim off the old stuff. Mine survived for a number of years doing nothing to it, but my climate is different than yours.
I'm zone 7 and the only time I have ever had mine come back was when it was protected from the weather. I had it planted on the west side of my house, with a brick wall behind it. I had it planted with Persian Shield and I knew it wasn't coming back and was surprised to see the Mexican Heather. I agree with FFG, it's worth a try and hopefully it will work. GOOD LUCK!
Posts: 2909 | Location: Holly Springs, MS USA | Registered: Sep 19, 2002
I'm in zone 10 but it still gets downs to the low 30's where I live in winter. Sometimes the temps even get in the 20's. My Mexican heather freezes every year. In spring I trim off the dead growth and it rebounds as if nothing happened. How cold does it get where you live?
I know I'm supposed to place wood 4 stakes around tender bushes and plants and cover the sides and top with cloth during the cold spells. The cloth isn't supposed to touch the plants.
ETA - I hope the plants aren't near your house because they smell like rotten cooked spinach when they freeze. At least I think it was the Mexican heather. It could have been the oleanders whose leaves turned black or the oriental hibiscus.This message has been edited. Last edited by: still tryin,
My DD isn't going to be happy when I tell her it may not make it through the winter. The nursery sold it to her as a perennial. She and her boyfriend worked hard to help plant a border in June and it has done really well. He kept telling her while he was digging holes that he wished it was at least something he could eat! Men!! LOL..... When the time comes, I'll mulch it really well and cover it with visqueen and NOT cut it back until the Spring. Wish me Luck and thanks for your replies. Everyone is so helpful.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Georgia Peach,
Originally posted by Georgia Peach: My DD isn't going to be happy when I tell her it may not make it through the winter. The nursery sold it to her as a perennial. She and her boyfriend worked hard to help plant a border in June and it has done really well. He kept telling her while he was digging holes that he wished it was at least something he could eat! Men!! LOL..... When the time comes, I'll mulch it really well and cover it with visqueen and NOT cut it back until the Spring. Wish me Luck and thanks for your replies. Everyone is so helpful.
You have to use cloth not plastic to cover Mexican heather because the sun will heat the plastic and burn the Mexican heather. Anything can be used that is cloth old sheets or blankets for example. Also make certain to water them really well 24 hours before the first frost or freeze as that will also help protect them.
And make sure what ever you use to cover them isn't touching the plants if at all possible. Personally...I'd put down a heavy mulch all around them on the ground and then when frost/freeze is predicted...I'd cover the whold plant with pine straw. They can breathe through that. And maybe lay a light blanket over them if it is going to get really cold..on top of the pine straw.
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
The Mexican Heather border is planted next to a shelter so hopefully this will help protect them. I'll make sure to use old sheets/blankets to cover them. I hadn't thought about the visqueen burning the plants. We use it to cover vegetables so I just assumed it would be okay for landscape plants. I have PLENTY of pinestraw falling from these Georgia pines so that's not a problem. Thanks again.
