Surprising survivors

I try to keep detailed records each year about what survives during cold snaps and at what temperature.  This helps tremendously in subsequent years by letting me know what to protect if the temperature is supposed to drop to 30°F, which is an entirely different event than if the forecast is for 26°F.  Even so, after record lows early in December this year, and two consecutive nights at 26°, I was surprised by a few plants that weren't damaged even though I did nothing to protect them.
Schefflera is a large-leafed tropical that is usually hard-hit by freezing conditions.  A few of the stalks have turned black but many are still looking great.

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Jacaranda usually defoliates during freezing temps but for now the fern-like leaves are still soaking up the sun.

My Mango tree was a pleasant surprise.  Just a few leaves at the top show a little brown.  I didn't get any fruit this year because of the hard freezes in January 2010, and I know winter is just starting, but I'm hoping  that the rest of the winter won't get any colder than we've already had.

The most amazing survivors are these Papaya seedlings.  They're under the canopy of a shade tree but otherwise got no protection from the 26° nights.

My 12-year-old Papaya out in the open just had the upper leaves nipped by frost and is still loaded with fruit.

There are lots of factors other than the low temperature that determine how much damage a freeze will cause.  Whether frost settles on the leaves makes a huge difference.  Wind speed and duration of the freezing temperatures can also mean the difference between life and death for tropical plants.  Still, some plants have shown they'll survive temps far below what you might expect!