Stick With It - That Winter-Ravaged Firethorn Plant May Have Survived

Q Our pyracantha (firethorn) has frozen back again this winter. The same thing happened two years ago, but the plant came back. Are these plants just too tender for here? What are the chances of this plant coming back after the cold winter weather? Should I replace it, and if so, with what?

A Some varieties of firethorn are hardier than others. However, we have experienced a couple of winters that have really been hard on them. I think I would stick with the firethorn, as it is a pretty evergreen plant and the berries and flowers are a plus.

Two years ago, the plants died back to the ground, but came back from the roots. At this point, it is hard to say how much freeze damage they have suffered this winter. And it will be two to four months before we can tell if the roots are still alive. Upright cotoneasters such as parneyi or henryi might be suitable replacements, if you decide to change plants. However, some of them look pretty sad, too, after the December storms.

Q One of my favorite plants is the Daphne odora. I have it planted on the east side of the house and the fragrance of the flowers last spring was most delightful. But, right now all the leaves are black and the poor thing looks like it has passed on. What are the chances of this plant surviving, after this past winter's cold weather?

A That's a tough question to answer. Daphne odora's that were exposed to the direct wind, during the storm, may be in more trouble

then those plants that were somewhat protected. I can say that the temperatures got down a little too low, and the wind chill factor was too severe for them. So don't dispose of the plant yet. Keep your fingers crossed, and wait until about mid-May to see if new growth develops from the existing root system.

Note: None of the plants in the garden that look dead or badly damaged should be removed yet. It's too early to assess the freeze damage to most plants. Some of the plants I have examined, only the leaves have been burned, in other cases the branches are dead. But who knows about the roots? It's simply too early to tell. Much of the freeze damage will not show up for several weeks or even a couple of months. I can tell you from experience that if a plant freezes back to the ground, it often can renew itself and regain growth quickly, if the roots are still alive. So they key word is patience.

Q I did not prune my roses before the cold December weather because the bushes were still in bloom. Now the flowers are all dead and the leaves are black. The bushes look like they are dead too. Should I prune them now or just yank them out of the ground?

A You can cut off the old flowers and leaves and cut the bushes back a bit. But I would leave the severe pruning to about the end of February or early March. By then you should have a better idea of what growth is alive and what's dead.

Q The leaves on my croton houseplant wilt about every two or three days. I water the plant and the leaves are fine for another two or three days, but then they wilt again. I give it enough water so the excess runs out the bottom of the pot. The plant is in a five-inch pot and is about two feet tall. Should I water it more often?

A If the plant is two feet tall and only in a five-inch pot, it sounds like it needs to be repotted. (I would think a plant that size would be top-heavy in a five-inch pot, and apt to tip over.) Check the root system as you repot it. If they are tangled-up along the edge of the root ball, be sure to loosen them carefully so they can continue to extend out into the new soil. In think the repotting will reduce the amount of water you need to give the plant. Use a top-quality grade of commercial houseplant potting mix.

Gardening by Ed Hume appears Thursday and Friday in the Scene section and Sunday in the Home/Real Estate section of The Times. He cannot respond to personal inquiries by mail but will answer questions of general interest in this column. Address questions to Ed Hume, c/o The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.