Our hibiscus plants are still green and growing quite tall. Should I cut them back like I usually do?

I had several calls about this during my phone session this week. In more tropical regions, hibiscus can grow quite large. To prune or not becomes more of a personal preference. In North Florida, we usually have at least one hard freeze that knocks them back, requiring a good spring pruning. We have yet to experience that hard freeze this winter, so most homeowners with hibiscus are still able to enjoy their plants along with some blooms. The time to prune your hibiscus would be after the “normal” last threat of freezing temperatures – usually sometime in March.

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Depending on the size and location of your hibiscus, if it isn’t knocked back by winter weather, it would be a personal choice as to whether to prune and control the growth of the plant.

I have learned that tulips do not re-bloom here like they do in cooler climates. What about daffodils? If so, can you recommend what to plant?

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Tulips are one of my favorite flowers, but you are right, at best they are considered an annual in our area – and even then they don’t seem to last as long as they should. On the other hand, some of the easiest spring flowering bulbs to grow in North Florida belong to the narcissus family, which includes daffodils and jonquils.

As noted on the website of the Florida Daffodil Society (www.fladaff.com), “a narcissus and a daffodil are one and the same.” It goes on to state that the name daffodil is used to refer to large daffodil flowers; jonquil, a hybrid, refers to small flowers; and narcissus refers to the cluster variety, including paperwhites. A few of the varieties recommended for North Florida include: Carlton (said to be one of the best choices), Soleil D’Or, Flower Carpet, Trevithian, Thalia and Sweetness.

Fall is the time to plant daffodil bulbs. Between now and then, you can research these and other varieties to seek your preference. The Florida Daffodil Society provides planting tips and other daffodil information. You can also check out the website for the American Daffodil Society, www.daffodilusa.org.

When can I prune my citrus trees?

It seems that we cover this topic a lot in this column, but as long as we keep getting the question, I think it is helpful to answer it. The question usually arises because the tree has gotten too big for its location or the fruit is too high to reach. As a general rule, there is no need to prune citrus. Pruning should be used to cut out suckers growing from below the graft, to help lift branches that are growing too close to the ground, to clip out branches that seem too weak to carry the load, and to take out weak or dead branches. This type of pruning can be done anytime.

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As pointed out in last week’s “Right Plant, Right Place” article by Terry DelValle, we often underestimate the potential size of a mature plant. This includes citrus. Not only can a citrus tree outgrow its space, its mature height also makes it difficult to reach all of the fruit. If you decide to prune because of its size or because too much of your fruit at the top is going to waste, keep in mind that, depending on the severity of the pruning, the plant’s fruit production will be decreased for a season or two. The best time for this type of pruning would be in the spring.

Recently, I discovered some caterpillars on my cassia tree. A couple of them were greenish with black markings and one was yellow with black markings. Are these butterfly caterpillars?

Indeed they are. Cassias are the host plants for several varieties of sulphur butterflies. I, for one, am seeing lots of sulphurs in my yard right now. I attribute this to my cassia tree, as well as the warmer weather that we have had. If you observe your cassia closely in the spring and summer months, you might notice the green caterpillars that you have seen. These are typically feeding on the leaves of the cassia. The green coloring provides a protective camouflage for the caterpillars.

Once fall arrives and during the early winter when the plant is flowering, you will notice that some of the caterpillars feed on the flowers. These take on a yellow color. Again, this coloring helps provide protection from predators. If they go back to feeding on the leaves, they return to the green coloring. For those of you who plant for butterflies, our winter so far has been a kind one for these creatures. If the mild weather continues, we might likely see an earlier abundance of butterflies in the spring.

Paula Lamb is a master gardener with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.

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