Going for all out stupidity (but stupidity sometimes works)

Ive been crafting the space known as the frost free border most of the summer.. so I have planted a Bougainvillea (not recently), in that border. The benefits of this, are that it is very dry, which is important, no wetness will occur in winter and the soil is poor.. it's also frost free, and fairly warm for it's location. I will report back next summer to see how it's doing (I expect it to drop leaves you see, it could regrow its leaves next Spring). I have had limited success growing Bougainvillea in a sheltered part of the garden before by the way.

 

Best of luck Stephen. I suspect that there are probably more plants than we realise that will take a bit of cold weather - in my case frost. I suspect the dry aspect is key. We look forward to a follow up.

 

That's brave! Is the border really frost-free even in a hard winter?

 

I've got a Bougie growing outside, to me frost free is the key, as mine gets full winter wet, but frost protection, as its next to the Strelitzia, so gets the same conditions.
I've actually found that in summer it can often get too dry, at which point it stops growing, so I irrigate it during dry spells.

 

That's funny Pete, my Boug is next to a Strelitzia too! We have a cold spell coming next week, but it should be ok, Ill just fleece it up and let it get on it's merry way. ps Pete, do yours lose their leaves in winter? Mine are still in full leaf, but I envisage they may fall off soon as the plant goes dormant.

Also Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is putting flower buds out, and I'm getting another flower hit of Jasminum polyanthum. Nice to see some colour coming up for winter.

 

frost free as in extreme radiation yes, it may get -1C or so for short periods in the coldest weather. No hoar frost will get in there, and the soil will never freeze

 

Here are some photos taken in the past week.. apologies if the photos appear sideways..
















Just some general views of the border.

 

The plants all look happy Keeping fingers crossed for your bougainvillea in the forthcoming cold spell!

 

Mines still in flower, but a bit straggly.
It usually drops its leaves by mid winter.

 

I`ve tryed the variegated shefflera before with no luck , but seen many arboreas around London still happy outside , the little areca palm under the ivy will make it but it seam that they never ever grown , got one myself outdoor that doesn`t do anything .
overall I`ve tryed to overwintering many plant outdoor in a different solution an way