kg5 - Tillies grow from frost-free extreme southern Arizona (one species, T. recurvata) east through Texas, Louisiana, southern Florida and on south almost to Patagonia. I don't think they grow in New Mexico because that state along the border with Mexico is at high enough elevation severe freezes are regular in winter.
That is an enormous range, with wildly differing habitats and climates. The ones around the Caribbean are warm and humid all year, generally without dry spells for more than a month or two. However, many of those from the central plateau of Mexico get only 4 months or so of summer rain, and are dry and almost dewless for the remainder of the year. Central America again has a lot of different climates: some areas are always rainy, some are not dry for more than a couple of months, but others are like central Mexico. Moving into South America these three types of climates are common.
Along the western coast of South America, vast mats of Tillies like purpurea grow on the sand where it might rain once every 10-15 YEARS. However, they get drenching fogs every night in winter, and summers are cool. So it's important to look up where a plant comes from. I don't believe tectorum goes very long with no dew. No plant with such narrow leaves can tolerate many months of sun with no source of water. I am sure many specimens in habitat have never seen rain but are watered well with dew. A constantly wet and humid climate like southern Florida is difficult for a lot of Tillies, but others love it - like the natives.
|
Threaded Mode
