Anyone growing Gulf Stream Nandina in zone 5?

I picked up a few of these "gulf stream nandina" today at a garden center. After looking at the tag closely and looking up this plant online, it doesn't appear to be intended for zone 5 for cooler. The question is...why would they be selling it here if it wouldn't survive here? Has anyone else in zone 5 or cooler attempted growing this and if so, could you give me any valuable feedback? I'd love to know if these are destined for failure before I plant them! Thanks a bunch!

It's supposed to be hardy to 6a so I guess you've got a chance if you have mild winters, hopefully someone from your zone will come along with some personal experience. You do need to be careful when you're out plant shopping, lots of places are perfectly happy to sell you plants that won't grow in your zone--true nurseries are usually a little better about this although they will still do it sometimes, but the garden centers at Home Depot, Lowes, etc are very bad about it, I don't think they pay any attention to what zone you're in.

Thanks, ecrane. You were right...I got them at Lowe's! Our winters are not exactly what I would call "mild" but temperatures don't normally stay below -10 for long stretches of time. So, I may fall back on the 1 year plant guarantee and give them a shot for this season. If temperatures fall really low, I guess I could always protect them somehow! I think it might be worth a shot! Thanks for your input.

Hi Easter_Lily I have to make a comment on the nadinas,I am not sure if they will grow there in IN I have them all over my house in GA and I must tell you if they do grow in your area Make sure they do not take over I have them everywhere and I mean everywhere they are even growing in the middle of my yard.I can not kill them, I have been trying to dig them out and everthing else and they still grow. They are like ferns you let them go they take over.

Generally you can go a zone up or a down a zone. For example, if you live in Zone 6 like me, you can plant things recommended for Zones 5 & 7.

Hi Easterlily, We have the same prob here with garden centers, UK, even nurseries, they will sell their grandmother if you were daft enough to buy her, the problem for the plant places, they have to cater to a wide range of gardeners, experiences and know how, some folks are good at assessing what type of growing conditions a plant likes and can alter things to suit, like add drainage, winter mulches, stakes or shelter belts etc, it is just a case of experience and chance in most cases, we all, in the past have done the same as you have just done, sometimes we are lucky, sometimes we fail, I am not too sure about the plant you have just bought or the name, so can only offer that maybe for the first year, would it be possible to grow it in a pot, that way you can keep an eye on it and get it under some cover IF you think it aint doing too well, it is really annoying when we do things that are a real chalenge, but that's how we learn the art of gardening, it takes years and we are all still learning believe me.
If it was expensive, take it back to the store and ask for refund or more info about the plants habit and conditions required in your zone.
Good luck anyway, WeeNel.

Thanks for the posts, everyone. WeeNel...we just keep seeming to meet up here and there! You never fail to make me laugh!!! Fortunately, the plants were not expensive. Although on a micro-budget, any amount is substantial! :) I decided to go ahead and plant them. Since GaFreeSpirit says they're prolific in that zone, I'm going with the not-so-sound logic that maybe they'll just be hardy growers in my zone...since they're not necessarily intended for here! :) Anyway...they have the one year guarantee AND they were a perfect fit for what I needed in the spot where I planted them. SO...fingers crossed, let's hope they work out!

Easter_Lily,

Not sure about the Gulf Stream Nandina, but last year I planted a Nandina Domestica that unfortunately did not survive the winter.
And I think we had a fairly mild winter here near Chicago.
Interestingly enough I searched high and low for that particular shrub around my area but couldn't find it. I finally wound up ordering it from an online nursery along with three other shrubs that I decided I "needed".
One is thriving (Japenese Pieris), one I'm still nursing (Red Prince Weigela) and a Drooping Leucothoe and the Nandina passed away.


Lisa

Thanks, Lisa. Even though it's bad news...it's good to hear some news from someone nearby! Because of your message, I'll probably try to take some precautionary measures to help protect them this winter. Sorry about your nandina but congratulations on your pieris! I think those are very cool plants. I love the new red growth! I love wiegela, too. Hope it snaps out of it soon and begins to thrive! Thanks to all, again. By the way...is the weather around Chicago ever "mild?" :)

Easter_Lily,

Did you ever hear the joke that lists how to know if you're in Chicago? One of the descriptions is if you have to go from heat to air conditioning in the same day. That's mild. :)

I think we've even managed to do that in central Indiana a few times! If you don't like the weather, stick around for a few hours... :)