Frost resistance of leaves of some plants growing in Dunedin, New Zealand, in winter 1987 and late autumn 1989

Abstract

The frost resistance of leaves of 20 different species of plants (and buds of two Hebe spp.) was measured in winter (July 1987), when winter hardening to frost would be expected to be near its maximum, or in autumn (April 1989) when winter hardening would have commenced, or in late winter (late August 1987) when some loss of resistance might be expected. The foliar frost resistance of the 16 native plants was generally low, from -2°C in Elingamita johnsonii to -11°C in Hebe buchananii, and similar to previous studies. Four exotic species, with less sclerophyllous leaves, from warm-temperate regions had maximum frost resistances from -6°C in Mimulus guttatus to -14°C in Rubus fruticosus.

Keywords:

• frost resistance
• Pseudopanax
• Metrosideros
• Alectryon
• Ackama
• Hebe
• Rubus
• Mimulus
• Leycesteria
• New Zealand