Question
QUESTION: Aloha Tom,

1) Is it true that Celosia are perennials in Zones 10-12?

2) Why do bouganvillea plants grow stalks over 10 feet long instead of the normal branches with flowers?  Should they be trimmed?

ANSWER: Hi Jennifer,
Thanx for your questions.

1.  Celosia is an annual native to the tropics of South America, the Caribbean and Africa.  It reseeds well and so I imagine in mild to subtropical climates it will reseed itself all over the place and come up over and over giving the appearance of being perennial.

2.  Bougainvillea is actually a thorny, woody vine that can reach lengths of 36 feet or more.  It can be pruned and trained as a large sprawling shrub or used as a semi-ground cover as it is used in Hawaii alongside the highways.  Bougainvillea easily responds to shaping and trimming.  

I hope this helps.  Mahalo nui loa.
Tom

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

QUESTION: 1) If the Celosia does not reseed, is there a perennial plant that is similar to it with a red-torch like flower.  I would love to recreate my father's garden.

ANSWER: Hi Jennifer,
Celosia does reseed quite well but there are a variety of torch-like gingers that grow all over Hawaii.

Take a look at the Google Image link below and let me know if this is the flower from your father's garden.  I miss being able to grow ginger as I used to see it in Hawaii when I lived there many years ago.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=red+ginger&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f

I hope this helps.
Aloha,
Tom

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

QUESTION: Because I am a novice gardener, can you recommend a reference book on outside plants and flowers that grow well in Hawaii and lists buying sources as well?

Answer
Aloha Jennifer,
Thanx for your question.  I know you indicated you were looking for books but here is also some great resources on line.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/higard/          Hawaii Gardening at Gardenweb

http://hawaiigardening.blogspot.com/

http://www.gardentimeonline.com/Hawaii.html

http://www.zone11.org/

http://www.booklineshawaii.com/InvListings.aspx?Cat=Books&InvChars=Gardening

http://www.gardenguides.com/resources/nurseries/nurseries-state.asp?state=HI

http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ag-resources/Garden

I hope this helps.
Tom