There is a forum for zone pushers. Thats the tropicalsque fourm, but it isnt very active even though a lot of people are interested in zone pushing. This forum seems to be the best when it comes to talking about zone pushing, but everyone on this forum also grows palms. My goal now is to have a tropical garden, but I got the interest from visiting florida and seeing the majestic palms. It wasnt until I did research that I found out about other tropicals and cold hardy palms.
Usually conversations on this forum have palms involved, but sometimes we talk about other tropicals and really anything that can grow in our zones and give a tropical look.

good luck

Bill,
You might want to check out the 'Hardy Palm and Subtropicals' forum at:
http://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/index.html?1263014944

This is a very popular forum for zone pushers whose main topic is palms , however a wide range of other plants such as cacti,agave,yucca, camellia, magnolia, bamboo, citrus,etc...and even the weather, is commonly discussed and is not considered 'off topic'.
Hope this info helps...

Tropicalzone,
I think that the forum title "Tropicalesque" might not be the most descriptive. In any case, after looking at it, you're right that it is not very active. I guess there's not as much interest as I thought.

Norcal I will follow the link you suggested.

Thanks to both of you!

Bill

Hi
i consider myself as more of a "nudger than a "pusher "
Since tropical plants are the best for this zone I try to grow temperates . i have several plants in the fridge "simulating a winter rest" lol. Down to Venus flytraps now, finally gave up on Iris and high altitude tropicals.fortuneately none of the palms fall into that catagory. Gardeners are NEVER happy??? lol gary

I always find it really interesting when gardeners in more tropical climates start growing plants that need colder winters. Its so true that no matter where you live you are probably going to try something out of your zone whether it be a colder zone, or a warmer zone.
There are lots of different types of zone pushers, whether you are growing something that can thrive in your area, but few people plant it, or you are growing something with less cold tolerance, or you live in such a nice climate you start putting trees and bulbs in the fridge so they can get there needed dormant period.

Topicalzone,

You have a point about certain things that can thrive in a certain area, but for some reason aren't grown by many people. It seems that a lot of people just aren't aware that certain things CAN grow where they live, and the majority of garden centers and nurseries just stick to the old tried and true. A good example are the hardy cactus. So many people are amazed to see my patch of cactus blooming in June and July.

It is so true. Eastern prickly pears are native to the east coast and found on some beaches on long island NY all the way south to the outer banks, yet no one even attempt to grow them. Most camellias grow flawlessly here and usuakky are covered in blooms, but those are also not very commonly found here. Southern magnolias are just begining to gai popularity with the oldest probably being around 30 years old, but most being in the ground for about 5 to 10 years.
Needle palms should be pretty bullet proof up to cape cod, but ive never seen one on public property near here.
Most garden centers just stick to "traditional" landscape plants and the cold tolerant palms that they do sell are probably kept in pots and therfore die once real cold comes because marginal plants cant spend an entire winter in a pot and come back.

Maybe in a way its a good think most people dont know about cold tolerant palms. Even though it would grace the streets of our neighborhoods, it wouldnt really make growing one very special.

"Maybe in a way its a good think most people dont know about cold tolerant palms. Even though it would grace the streets of our neighborhoods, it wouldnt really make growing one very special."

Good point! Besides, how are people able to find me when I give directios saying--"it's the house behind the palm trees" (Trachys).

I think what's interesting about the M. grandifloras is that they are an EXCELLENT indicator species for cold hardiness. What I mean, is that if they can be successfully and vigorously grown (without eleborate excessives--like dropping a greenhouse over them or anything resembling mummification), you're a solid zone 7 and should also be successful with Trachycarpus and a few other cold hardier palms (some Sabals, Needles, Mediterranean fans (especially with modifications to the soil and microclimate consideration), and perhaps
Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens). I am going to be experimenting soon with these species soon as the Trachys have done well so far. I guess one thing I really like about our zone is the expance of plant species we can potentially grow here (from marginal subarctic to subtropical zones). At the cold end, I have my Canadian Hemlocks and other conifers and on the warm side I have had success growing a variety of subtropicals (M.grandifloras, camelias, Fatsia japonica, Opuntias, Podocarpus, Trachys, and even a loquat (the latter espaliated against the house).

One of my favorite garden centers stopped selling the Opuntias for fear that people whould compain about their thorns. Imagine that, a cactus with thorns! As plant enthusiasts, we sometimes forget that for most people plants are just green things that grow in the dirt, period.

PS. Although Needles would be cold hardy enough for Cape Cod, I'm not sure the area offers the summer heat this species requires during the growing season to thrive (probably best from NYC metro and south).

I'm working on a new forum for that very purpose. I hope to have it complete some time in February.