You are right. We should each be grateful for the things we can have in our own zones. Hostas are very much at home here in my yard.
That bougainvillea I bought at the beginning of the season isn’t putting out such beautiful bracts lately. It isn’t over watered and it’s in the sunniest spot my yard offers. I’m wondering now if I can fertilize to try to get more color out of the bracts. If not, it was fun trying it.
Bougainvillea need a very dry climate, such as I have in So Cal. I don’t think they do well if there is any humidity whatsoever, so if you are in a more humid climate, I don’t think they’re going to do well.
They put out the most colorful bracts during our worst heat and hot winds and are one of the few things that “flower” during that time. Vincas and lantana also do well in the heat.