Can clusia take central Florida 10-year cold snaps?

[Sandy Loam]

Clusia Rosea (or whatever the common clusia shrubs found EVERYWHERE in South Florida are called) :

 

Up in Polk County, Central Florida, do they last 20 years without taking any overnight cold damage?  Will they grow to be HUGE hedges (10 feet tall) like they do down in south Florida? 

 

My climate up here is similar to Orlando and Tampa. 

[Merlyn]

I planted one here in NW Orlando, but this past winter was only in the mid 30s for one night...and a hint of frost.  I have it directly across from a seagrape cluster, so it'll be interesting to see which one is hardier.  I already know the seagrape defoliates with any significant frost, and burns to the ground around 27ish.

[Eric in Orlando]

The very common Clusia usually sold as "Clusia rosea"  or "Clusia guttifera"is Clusia flava. It has the thick, bright green succulent leaves. It tolerates low 30s, below 29-30F starts to show damage. But frost will burn it. True Clusia rosea has bigger leaves that are dark green and thinner. It is more cold sensitive. There is also the small leaf Clusia common in SoFL , this is Clusia fluminensis 'Pedra Azul' (often sold as Clusia rosea 'Nana' or Clusia guttifera 'Nana'). It is hardier than true C. rosea but slightly more tender than C. flava.

I would grow them as a specimen but not depend on it to be a big hedge.

 

[richtrav]

Yeah pretty much what Eric says. I’ve lost the dwarf form to a surprise frost of 29, the regular one took a brief frostless freeze down to 28-29 in Dec 2022 but was severely injured this past January when similar temperatures lasted a bit longer. And you can’t count on them coming back from the root like many tropicals, they’re usually toast. Sea grapes, Natal plums, Portulacaria, and Green Mound figs are all tougher plants.

[Sandy Loam]

Thank you, everyone.  This is helpful information.  I will be avoiding clusia in central Florida, based on the comments above. 

 

It is amazing how clusia are long-term huge trees all over coastal south Florida, but are not really a long-term plant without risks in central Florida.  Wow.  Thanks.