Colder zone people... limited plant selection

[Just Turned Pro]

I was just thinking....

Its seems as if there are so many plants that I can't use in my landscapes and designs. I live in an area that is a pretty solid USDA z8 (Sunset z4) with many micro-climate areas of USDA z9 (Sunset z5). In reality, I have one of the better gardening climates in the country. Yet I always yearn for a larger selection. There are many plants that I would love to use that are z10 or require a hotter summer climate to actually grow.

But, then I come online and I see that many of you live in areas that are 3 or 4 zones colder with significantly colder winters. It gets me to wondering.... Am I taking whats available to me for granted? I guess I have many selections to choose from that many of you don't? What about those of you restricted to z4? Do you feel even more restricted than I do? I think to myself, how can they design with such limitations.

I know that the zones are only guides, and I am one who routinely pushes the limit and tries to achieve the tropical look wherever I can, but for the most part they are a pretty good guide of what will or won't survive.

[agla]

I worked in zone 4 in the past. Yes, you are in a great zone.

My opinion is that if you are pushing the envelope in your zone (or mine for that matter) you are starting to landscape out of context. I like the idea of designing things that fit. A 250 year old house can look a little silly with a Japanese garden. A palm tree in Alaska might look a little weird. Those are extremes, but the same thing holds true in less extreme circumstances.

If you work in the context of what is traditionally used in your area and with the architectural style of the house, your landscapes will be timeless. Tropical planting seems to be a west coast fad these days while in the Northeast period planting is much more main stream even on reproductions.

That is not to say that living and designing on the edge is not right. It is just not my thing. It is also a little like cheating. It is far challenging to work within limitations than to pretend they do not exist. JMO

[Stonehenge]

I moved from Zone 5 to Zone 4 about 10 years ago - I was amazed at the number of plants I lost the ability to use in that move.

I'd love to have the greater selection of even a Zone 6. :)