>>>>>>We are preparing some winter hardiness trials and am curious what are the lowest temperatures that anyone has had luck growing any of the chasmanthe species? Hi Tony, Chasmanthe bicolor should be hardy with you, but you'll have to try the rest three times. Chasmanthe bicolor corms are planted outside here 4 inches deep, south facing and under the protection of a crown lifted Buddleija salvifolia. The flower and scape colours are much stronger if grown outside, and indeed I now prefer to grow it this way. I have found this to be the hardiest species and will survive temps down to at least -5C, and windchill to -11C, it is also more wind tolerant than other species. There's one thing about it though, you'll have to plant a large number of bulbs in one area to be successful with it. I've tried planting the odd bulb or odd group of bulbs here outside for a few years, and these all failed. When I planted a group of about fifty they overwintered beautifully, obviously the larger group provided better drainage and afforded the colony amassed protection from the elements. I've had similar success with Watsonia here, and planting them in the same manner, but much deeper. I have tried C. floribunda here outside, and under the cover of a tree, and with the support of a Euryops chrysanthemoides. However it does not like the cold or the wind. Sadly I haven't the space to plant 50 floribunda bulbs in the garden, some of which can get over 9 inches across. Best Wishes, Dave David Fenwick The African Garden 96 Wasdale Gardens Estover Plymouth Devon England PL6 8TW 01752 301402 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com/). Version: 6.0.544 / Virus Database: 338 - Release Date: 25/11/03