>nor do I ever expect it to be. There are more plants in the world than >I can ever grow, so if a plant is unable to survive if exposed to the real >world, too bad. My sentiments exactly. Five years ago I had so many semi-hardy things in pots that my backyard was an ugly mess. If a sudden frost was forecast then I spent hours bringing them indoors to protect them. TOO MUCH UNNECESSARY WORK! I eventually realized there are more plants in the world than I could ever grow, so like you I decided to only work with those that could survive outdoors exposed to the real world growing conditions here in Cincinnati, Ohio. To my surprise many of them survived just fine out of their pots, if planted close to the house. The biggest thrill was Iris cretensis. It has bloomed 3 different times in the last 4 winters around Christmas or New Years, when the temps crept up into the 50's & 60's for a few days. Dennis in Cincinnati