Thanx for the email you were right, down south they call pine needle mulch, pine straw mulch. The reason why I want it is I was in tennesse and saw a few friends with some palms and some musa basjoo and elephant ears and lilies and I asked them how they protected it in winter. I told them about my experience with the hard wood mulched we have here. I have had problems with fungus and rotting banana stalks and some mushy bulbs come spring time. They showed me the pine needle mulch. They showed me how it was way better and how it holds in heat and it lets water through and dosent absorb water. They said it naturally repels pests and fungus. this stuff doesnt decay and get nasty like hard wood mulch does. Also my hardwood mulch freezes. Here is a link for anyone else who might be interested. There is a nice woman named claudia that owns the place.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pine straw mulch