Ornamental Plants For Zone 10

• Bougainvillea grows well in USDA hardiness zone 10. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  USDA hardiness zone 10 has annual minimum temperatures of 30 to 40 F and covers parts of states like California, Texas and Florida. Gardeners in zone 10 need seldom worry about frosts, which can be a killer for many plants in cooler, more northerly areas of the United States. Many of the plants that grow well in zone 10 have tropical or Mediterranean origins, so they flourish in hot, dry conditions.

Agapanthus

• Agapanthus, also called African lily and lily of the Nile, is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11, and so is well suited to growing in zone 10. Native to South Africa, agapanthus grows up to 3 feet tall and produces balls of usually blue flowers in the late spring or early summer. The plant blooms for as long as six weeks. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension notes that the first record of agapanthus in the United States dates back to 1806. Agapanthus blooms best in full sun and is drought-resistant once established. Even then, it does best if kept damp during the spring growing season.

Bougainvillea

• Originating from South America, bougainvillea is hardy in USDA zones 9b to 11, thriving well in the hot conditions of zone 10. Bougainvillea produces blooms in a variety of colors including purple, red and white. The University of Florida Extension points out that bougainvillea will grow as a shrub with regular pruning. If allowed to grow freely, it acts as a climber, covering fences and walls and scrambling through other shrubs and trees. Gardeners also grow bougainvillea in planters and hanging baskets. Bougainvillea grows best in a spot with full sun on a well-drained soil.

Dahlias

• Dahlias, which grow from a type of root called a tuber, are hardy only from USDA zone 8 upwards. The gardener growing them in zone 10 is at an advantage as there is no need to lift the tubers for over-winter storage, as gardeners in cooler zones must. These perennial plants produce blooms in a huge range of shapes and colors. The University of Florida Extension notes that in zone 10, gardeners can plant the tubers in the fall for flowering displays during winter and spring. More commonly, dahlias flower in the late summer. A sunny spot that gets some afternoon shade best suits dahlias in zone 10, since extreme heat can affect them badly. Never allow the plants to dry out.