Dear Jim, From our list in 2003 Don Journet who was then growing 90 species, cultivars, etc. in Australia wrote: "I grow Lachenalia outdoors in southern Australia in an area which seems to compare with your zone 9. We experience 15 deg. C frost and provided I give some overhead protection using tree cover they seem to grow well. I believe several species experience frosts in their homeland." My experience with Lachenalias in a raised bed when we had an unusual Arctic cold spell when temperatures got down to 19 degrees F. was that they turned to mush and most of them did not come back in subsequent years. These were in the ground so to speak instead of pots which you think might have helped some, but did not have overhead protection. For several days afterwards the temperatures remained in the 40ties (F.) during the day, also very unusual for here. Some other South African bulbs in the same place put out new leaves a month or so later, but not the Lachenalias. I think it wise to wait to put them to the test when you have extras you don't mind losing. Mary Sue