Question
QUESTION: I have been trying to find tropical looking palms and plants for a large
condo terrace. We have several large cattle watering troughs (5 and 6 ft x
2ft) we use for planters.  We did drill holes for drainage. Last winter we
lost a coconut palm as well as two of three clustered Alexander palms and
one Queen palm.  Our pigmy dates survived just fine. I think it's the wind
that is the real issue. Also some colorful perennials for the base would be
nice. Thank you SO MUCH for any help you can give me..

ANSWER: Hi Bonnie,
Thanx for your question.  I used to live in Fort Walton Beach and my brother lives near Daytona Beach.  I am down there two or three times a year.  Would you mind telling me in what part of Florida you are located?
thx,
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again,  We live directly on the bay in Downtown Sarasota, we get
strong winds almost every day.   Thanks for ANY help you can offer...

Answer
Hi Bonnie,
Thanx for your question.  Here are some recommendations for cold-hardy palms for the Sarasota area:
windmill, true date, Canary Island, Texas sabal, Mediterranean fan, California Fan and Pindo.  These will all survive down to between 5癮nd 15癋.  Mexican Fan, Queen and Sago will go down to 18?20癋.  Some beautiful vines you can use like bleeding heart vine, passiflora, bougainvillea, Confederate jasmine, golden pothos, mandevilla and sweet potato.  Small shrubs like croton, ti, bird-of-paradise, sanseveria, gardenia, hibiscus.  Some colorful sub-tropicals like hedychium, lantana, lily-of-the-nile, African iris, crocrosmia, acidanthera, Aztec lily, Mexican heather, cannas, gerbera, begonias, bulbine, cigar flower, daylily, leonotis, peacock ginger, pentas, Persian shield, Shrimp plant, St. Bernard's lily, torenia, verbena.  

May I also sugges contacting your Sarasota area Mastergardeners via the link below.  They probably have some great local advice!


http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/urbhort.shtml

I hope this helps.
Tom