Luc's Garcinia - cold tolerances . . .

[Epicatt2]

A number of Forums Members have discussed growing Luc's Garcinias on the Forums for a few years now.

What has been your experience with them vs cold weather in, say, zone 9b?

How large do they seem to need to get before they start to show some cold tolerance?

I have several Luc's that I'd lke to plant out but they are only about a foot tall with ten or so pairs of leaves and they are in 1 gallon pots with the roots just now starting to creep out thru the drainage holes of their pots.  So I think that they are maybe about ready to plant out but I'm not sure.  (Anyway, surely by next March.)

If planted out now I figure that if need be I can cover them well if we get some cold weather and they should make it thru a couple degrees of a light freeze if it is brief.

Suggestions?  Advice?

TIA

Paul M.
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PS — I also have G. intermedia and G. brasiiensis that are about the same height as the Luc's and in 1 gallon pots.
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[achetadomestica]

Are your Luc's in full sun?
I put a couple small seedlings in the ground last year and they got 29F one
night last year. It was very windy and no frost.
My two trees are struggling with the full sun and this summer I placed some
bananas in pots on the West side to give them late afternoon relief. The
bananas did not offer much relief. It looks like the small trees are starting to
turn darker green? I also have 3 Achachas in the ground. They are larger
and the first one made it through a heavy frost a few years back but didn't
grow much for a year? I have a couple other Lucs in pots in mostly shade that
are doing much better. One option would be to plant one of your trees  and experiment
with one tree. Up pot the other trees. My understanding is the Garcinias have a deep
tap root and initally the trees don't grow much while the root developes.

[Frog Valley Farm]

No news here

[BestDay]

Good information FVF but I don’t understand the comment about Madrono.

Bill

[FlyingFoxFruits]

critical damage starts to occur right about 29-25F...even death.

30-32F, can cause defoliation, branch dieback, and wrinkling (sap oozing) from which they usually recover...here in FL.

[Andreas Gia]

Have a couple garcinias facing the north side of the house. During the winter last year had multiple freezes and strong northern winds during that time period. 9a/9b climate.

Here are the findings after a winter with multiple freezes:
(Coldest temp without wind factor was 25F. Also minimal wind protection)
Luc’s 1’6” tall no cold damage.
Achacha 3’ died back to the stump. Stunted as of right now.
Hombronia 2’ dead
Superior lemon drop 2’ defoliation.
Madruno 2’6” defoliation
Multiple imbes sizes from 1’ to 2’6” no cold damage

Everything is grown in partial shade.

If this helps anyone great. Don’t do anything special for the plants. No fertilizer or mulch either
Luc’s can take abuse similar to imbe (in my opinion)

[Frog Valley Farm]

No news here.

[Epicatt2]

Have a couple garcinias facing the north side of the house. During the winter last year had multiple freezes and strong northern winds during that time period. 9a/9b climate.

–snip–

Thanx Andreas.  Your post was most helpful, especially since several of the Garcinias that you commented on I am growing here in Tampa.

Much Appreciated!

Paul M.
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[Epicatt2]

I cannot seem to locate it right now but wasn't there also a post on here some months back which
had a list of Garcinias, Eugenias, etc., plus their cold tolerances with damage and kill temperatures
(plus updates on some of those species)?

Did anyone save or have a link for that list which you could post here?

Paul M.
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