Jim: We killed Sprekelia for years until I discovered that it likes hot, baking sun. Our clumps multiply so fast now, that they must be divided every few years. FYI, in the past 6 years, we have only dropped to 8 degrees F, with our last 0 degree F winter in 1996. During this same 6-year period, we had no luck overwintering x Hippeastrealia 'Durga Pradhan' in many different locations, but when we grew seedlings from this, we had had 100% surivability for 4 years, with a low temperature of 8 degrees F. This includes 1-year old seedlings in the ground with no winter protection. I have also had 100% survival from x Hippeastrealia 'Red Beauty', surviving the same temperatures mentioned above. Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent James Waddick wrote: > Dear All; > I changed the topic to something closer to the actual TOPIC! > > Actually this hybrid would seem even less hardy than straight > Spekelia-at least to me. > > Maybe the Sprekelia x Lycoris hybrid might have some > increased hardiness, but not likely either. > > I've grown Hipp. x johnsonii for a number of years and it has > never bloomed in the ground. And this is said to be the hardiest > Hippeastrum. > > Not totally dubious, but just very surprised at the report. > Anyone else successfully grow Sprekelia or any hybrids in Zone 6 or > 7? > > Best Jim W. >