Last blossoms before the first freeze

December 07, 2012


We’re expecting a low around 30F (-1.1C) early next week, so we may be enjoying the last flowers for a little while. ‘Twinkle Pink’ cuphea is still glowing rosily in the afternoon light, but a frost will crisp it for the season. Will it happen? Who knows. Texas weather is unpredictable.


It’s a nice reason to get out and enjoy the late-season flowers though.


Of course, foliage plants like ‘Color Guard’ yucca will continue to look good no matter how low the temperatures drop.

All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

9 responses to “Last blossoms before the first freeze”

  1. Shirley says:

    Twinkle pink is cute and I was just thinking the same thing. Need to get out and enjoy those last blooms before the freeze.

    At least we have a weekend to finally prepare for our first freeze, right? —Pam

  2. That’s nice shade of deep pink. Maybe it will be just one quick, light frost, with the Death Star giving you a few more weeks of flowers?

    That’s quite possible, David. Only a light freeze is predicted. We’ll have to wait and see which way it goes. —Pam

  3. Jenn says:

    I’m putting Color Guard on my wish list. Spectacular!

    Isn’t it? I really love this yucca for year-round color. —Pam

  4. rjhyden says:

    Don`t give up the blooms yet. We`ve had a couple of freezes here and though some signs of bite are evident in some plants, there are still lots of blooms enjoying the unusually warm fall.

    You are right, of course, Randy. Some plants happily bloom through a few light freezes. I’m not sure this cuphea is one of them though. —Pam

  5. Katina says:

    And here we are – the time of year where I have to decide if it’s worth trying to keep the summer fruiting plants alive, or to let them go…I think I may have a busy weekend harvesting and digging up some plants…

    Hey, at least we have the weekend to prepare this time, right? Happy harvesting, Katina. —Pam

  6. Louis says:

    Beautiful blooms and even better yucca!!!!! I’m sad that you have a freeze. Tonight is supposed to be 32F here so it will be a frosty one. I always forget that this happens.

    Oftentimes we Austinites look forward to a freeze in order to zap the mosquitoes. My husband will be cheering on the low temps for this reason. —Pam

  7. Gail says:

    Color Guard is such a good looking yucca. I’m seriously thinking of replacing the standard yucca with it! I do love the Cupheas and wish they were hardier! As to the freeze…we need to see winter here in the Middle South.

    Yes, I could use a little winter myself, Gail. Mind you, I said “a little.” 😉 —Pam

  8. Nicole says:

    That cuphea is very cute!

    It’s a cutie, all right. —Pam

  9. peter schaar says:

    I like your use of Y. filamentosa ‘Color Guard’. For a larger, more dramatic version of the same kind of color scheme, I’m deeply enamored of my Y. gloriosa ‘Variegata’. Have you ever tried it?

    I haven’t, Peter. Maybe someday I’ll find room for one. But I’m pretty stuck on ‘Color Guard’ and the paler ‘Margaritaville’ for now. —Pam