Heliconia in zone 8a?

I recently bought 2 heliconias from HD in Savannah. I just couldn't resist myself, even though the tag listed cold hardiness as zone 9a. Last month, to my surprise and delight, I had caladiums return that I had forgotten about when I dug up my others last fall, so I'm curious if any zone 8a gardeners have had Heliconias survive our winter. If not, they will be potted plants.

I've had no luck "growing them through" here yet in Charleston, donnacreation, but I'm still trying...feel I'm getting closer to success...

Do they flower on old growth? If that's the case then they would have to be in pots since they die back in the winter .. I had to give all my alpina's to my mother in Lauderdale because of that.

X

I have only seen one that has successfully made it through the winter in the ground around here (9a) and it was in the most protected of spots.

Thanks for the feedback. My Heliconias will join many other out of zone plants in my GH. Bummer! I'm wondering if I should stop digging up my caladiums, since so many forgtten bulbs(tubers?) returned. Are some varieties more cold hardy than others?