I used to grown Hot Cocoa, and it was a very unusual rose. Why don't you post this on the Discussions site to see if you can get more responses?

I would suggest growing it in a pot in water . It needs full sun and constant wet soil and will grow quite huge Not knowing where you are located , it is impossible to tell you if it will grow in your location , It will if you grow it as an annual . I am zone 6 but much too dry to grow it ( SW Ontario ) It is tender even in zone 7 so my best guess is it will need to come inside for the winter. So yes it can be grown in zone 5 full sun totally wet all the time . easiest way is in a pot sunk into a pond or plant in a bog and either transport pot inside in fall or dig out of bog and set in a pot to take inside . It will need constant wet soil inside as well . I almost bought one from DeGroots a nursery in Sarnia until I went to pick it up and discovered it's suggested coolest zone was a zone 8. I asked them why they even bothered to stock it (of course they have a huge heated green house so they are ok . And of course the salesperson didnt know why they try to sell an item not rated for our zone) ...yeah right ! They will sell anything to anyone and if it doesnt survive all the better cuz then you are back looking for another one and they make money..... that is why they sell plants not rated for our zone . Signet

I don't use burlap either, I don't see the return for the effort. Other cultural practices have a much greater benefit. Rhododenrons are pretty tough to grow well in southern Ontario, they require lots of ancillary care. You need to make sure that you've got hardy varieties, the soil composition is correct (high organic, well draining, acidic), planted in a sheltered position (part shade, little wind), the rootball was scored just before planting, topdressed and fertilized every year, and some shelter from winter sun. I did a phenomenal amount of work to ensure conditions mimic a rhodos habitat which in southern ontario, is not easy. One of the biggest shortcomings are the dry summers which can be made worse if you have a thirsty tree nearby (especially maples). I water at least once a week during the summer. The other shortcoming is the soil, which unless you live on the Shield, is exactly the opposite of what is needed. Instead of trying to modify the soil, I just ended up changing it. As for varieties, the Yak, PJM, and Finnish groups are the hardiest but any zone 5 rhodo will work for you. The Dominion aboretum in Ottawa has large rhodos, as does RBG in Hamilton. Azaleas are easier! Simon

Hi everyone :) I found the information that I needed on overwintering Black and Blue. Lorna: I looked on the Salvia form (recent posts-last 3-4 pages and could not find any info), but thanks anyway. Ctnchpr: Than whiskey barrels it is!!! I put my other (considered annuals) salvia's in whiskey barrels. Thanks so much :) Rita: Wow, you can't leave them in the ground in Zone 8. I have heard of alot of Zone 6'ers having them survive in ground. I just now got mine at our Lowe's, so they probably will not get as tall as yours because you get yours in the spring. About fertilizing, I wonder if bloom booster would be OK. I will be sure not to overfertilize. Thanks for your kindness and info :)