> We have just had 2 nights where the temps went down to 6 F >(-14 C) and yesterday barely made it up to freezing. .... > Today the plant looks essentially unchanged, but the flowers >and buds are totally frozen, collapsed and lost. So clearly the >flowers cannot take this extreme, but the plant looks ok. Dear Friends, wrote the above (and more) on 2/12/12. Today 2/22/12 exactly 10 days later, the first of a second round of buds has opened completely. So not only is 5 degrees cold enough to kill open and nearly open buds, but a healthy plant can recover and re-flower in as short as 10 days. I must remind readers that this plant is outside and in the ground, year round in a micro-climate, south facing aspect near a stone stairway. More buds are visible and I expect to see more flowers soon. Todays temp is going toward mid-60s F. So if you are wishful and in Zone 5/6, give it a try. Best Jim W. ps a patch of nearby Iris magnifica had one entire shoot freeze almost to the soil line while others in light pine straw mulch are untouched. I am hoping the one with the frozen shoot has an intact bulb and can produce some new shoots eventually. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +