❄️ The Hardiness Report: February 2026 ❄️

🐾 Smokey & Sunshine’s real-world survival data from our Sebring, Florida Research Gardens. Smokey analyzed the data. Sunshine just stayed happy. Here is what they found.

📊 Weather Data – February 1–6, 2026

Sebring, Florida – 132 years of recorded observations
This was not a light frost. It was a prolonged, windy, penetrating hard freeze.

• 🌡 Minimum temperature: 25F
• ❄️ Wind chill: 14F
• ⏳ Duration: 3 nights of 8–10 hour hard freeze
• ☀️ Daytime temperatures: around 50F for 7 days
• 🌀 Wind: sustained 20 mph, gusts 40–50 mph

While all our plants in pots were protected in greenhouses, our in-ground plantings faced the freeze outdoors. We covered what we could. Even so, some plants were damaged, some died, and some surprised us by surviving.

In the next few newsletters, we will share the real survivors - the plants that proved themselves in the ground, under real conditions. Smokey and Sunshine have been out in the fields assessing the damage from the February 1–6 freeze. While many plants struggled, the Macadamia proved to be a true standout. This is how we grow them to handle the tough years.

Why does this matter? Because we have gotten used to warm winters, and this freeze was a rude awakening. Not everyone lives in Miami. If you garden in places where a real cold event can happen, you have to be prepared - and you have to plant what can take it.

🌰 Macadamia: Freeze Tested and Standing

When temperatures dropped to 25F with wind chill near 14F, our established macadamia trees remained upright, green, and structurally intact. Leaves held. Branches stayed firm. No collapse, no panic.

That is not luck. That is macadamia hardiness.

Often considered a "tropical luxury nut," macadamia proved it can handle more than many gardeners expect. In USDA Zones 9b-11, with proper drainage and site selection, it is not just ornamental - it is a long-term food tree with real resilience.

In a winter that reminded us not to take warmth for granted, macadamia earned its place on the survivor list.

The nut itself is famous for its strength. The shell is among the hardest in the nut world, requiring serious pressure to crack. Inside, the kernel is creamy, buttery, rich, and deeply satisfying. High in monounsaturated fats and naturally low in sugar, macadamias have long been valued both for flavor and for nutrition.

The tree is equally impressive. An evergreen with tough leaves and elegant spring flowers, it matures into a productive, manageable canopy. Nuts develop slowly over six to seven months. Production begins in a few years and increases steadily as the tree matures. Plant it once, and it can reward you for decades.

Cold will come again. It always does. The question is not whether winter will test your garden. The question is whether your trees are ready. Macadamia proved it is. If you are building a garden that feeds you for decades, this is a tree worth planting.

🛒 Add Macadamia Tree to your garden

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Eugenia Cherries 🍒

By Tatiana Anderson, Horticulture Expert at Top Tropicals with Smokey & Sunshine help

Growing Eugenia Cherries (Cherry of the Rio Grande & Grumichama)

Cherry of the Rio Grande and Grumichama are compact, adaptable tropical fruit trees well suited to Southern landscapes. While forgiving, they perform best when planted correctly from the beginning.

Site and Planting

• Drainage is essential. Avoid low areas where water collects. Plant on a slight mound if soil is heavy or clay-like.
• Choose full sun for best flowering and fruit production. Partial shade is tolerated.
• A south or southeast exposure near a wall improves cold resilience and reduces wind stress.
• Dig a hole twice as wide as the container, but no deeper than the root ball.
• Set the tree level with surrounding soil. Do not bury the trunk.

Water and Feeding

• Water regularly during the first few months while roots establish.
• Once established, trees tolerate short dry periods but fruit best with moderate, consistent moisture.
• Feed lightly and consistenly. SUNSHINE Boosters Robusta liquid fertilizer is safe to use with with every watering. During hot season you may add controlled release Green Magic every 6 months. It is essential to apply micro elements: Sunshine Superfood micro nutrients complex

Cold Tolerance

• Protect young trees during hard freezes.
• Established Cherry of the Rio Grande can tolerate brief drops into the low 20s.
• Established Grumichama tolerates temperatures into the upper 20s.

Harvest and Production

• Cherry of the Rio Grande fruits from late spring into summer. Pick when fully dark and slightly soft.
• Grumichama ripens quickly, often within four weeks after flowering. Pick when glossy and deep purple-black.
• Both trees often begin fruiting within 2–3 years and increase production steadily with maturity.

Growing in Containers

• Use at least a 10–20 gallon pot for long-term growth.
• Ensure multiple drainage holes.
• Use a high-quality, well-draining container mix. Avoid heavy garden soil. Top Tropicals Abundance soil-less mix is specially formulated for pot growing
• Place in full sun for best fruiting.
• Water deeply, then allow the top layer to dry slightly before watering again.
• Move containers to a protected area during hard freezes.
• Prune lightly to maintain shape and airflow.

Common Mistakes

• Planting in poorly drained soil.
• Overwatering and keeping soil constantly saturated.
• Over-fertilizing with excessive nitrogen.
• Planting too deep and burying the trunk.
• Expecting heavy crops immediately instead of allowing time for maturity.
• Skipping cold protection for young plants.

Learn more: Tropical Cherries – Eugenias

❓Frequently Asked Questions: Eugenia cherries (FAQ)

• Which one tastes better – Cherry of the Rio Grande or Grumichama?
  Cherry of the Rio Grande has a deeper, classic “sweet cherry” flavor with slight richness. Grumichama is softer, juicier, and often described as cherry with hints of grape and plum. Both are excellent fresh; Grumichama is especially popular for jam.
• Which tree produces more fruit?
  Grumichama typically produces heavier crops once mature and can carry hundreds of fruits in a season. Cherry of the Rio Grande produces consistently but in slightly smaller volumes.
• Do birds take all the fruit?
  Birds are attracted to both trees, especially Grumichama. Netting during peak ripening or harvesting promptly usually solves the issue.
• Are these true "tropical" trees or subtropical?
  They are best described as subtropical tropicals. Unlike ultra-tender tropical fruits, Eugenia cherries tolerate occasional frost once established, making them more reliable in Southern landscapes.
• Do they drop fruit messily?
  Fruit will fall if overripe, but the trees are compact and manageable. Regular harvesting prevents ground drop and keeps the area clean.
• Can they be used for hedging or screening?
  Yes. Their dense evergreen foliage and upright growth make them suitable for edible hedges or privacy screens while still producing fruit.

Choosing between them is not about survival — both have proven resilient. It is about flavor preference, crop volume, and how you want to use the fruit in your kitchen and landscape.

🛒 Add Eugenia cherries to your garden

✍️ Top Ten Fruit Tree Winners of Florida 2026 Record Freeze

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Today: Spring Equinox Plant Festival 🌿

Everything is ready for today at our Spring Equinox Plant Festival. The garden is full and we would love to see you. Come over today and enjoy it with us. SEE FULL EVENT DETAILS

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🌈 Adeniums: More Than Just Plants

🌱 Shape, Color, and Why Each Adenium Feels Unique

Adeniums can stop you in a strange way. It is not only the flowers, although they help. It is the whole plant. The swollen base, the curves, the way no two look quite the same. Some are thick and heavy, some more refined, almost like they were shaped on purpose. After a bit, you stop seeing them as regular plants and start treating them more like objects you want to keep and look at.

That is usually how a collection starts. One plant, then another that feels different, and then you want contrast. Light next to dark, soft next to bold, one with a wide base next to a taller form. It is not really about having many. It is about how they look together. And over time, each one changes a little, so the collection never stays the same.

🛒 Explore Exotic Adenium varieties

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