The jury's still out on the hardiness of Prince and Princess. Growers are conservatively listing as zone 8, but this will likely change with time. It is at least 1 zone hardier than Rubrum and feedback shows it to likely be 2 zones hardier...that would place it as a solid zone 8, possible zone 7, perhaps hardier. It does work well as a replacement for rubrum, which is not a reliable zone 8, particularly when a burgundy color is desired in a cooler southeast zone...and no, it's not the burgundy perennial grass the northeast has been after. It also can be a replacement for hard to get phormiums of the same color.

Well, I just planted 9 new pfg's to replace my winter dead clumps. May have had about 3 or 4 growing shoots on each clump, but it's just not worth it. Saw these on sale at the link below... fast growers, fast bloomers, won't take long to have those beautiful purple plumes again. :) I still envy the clumps down the road at Publix and Starbucks that survived this year...about 5 gallon size or so. I'll stick with replanting eah spring as necessary. I'd hate to take the chance on planting a 5 gallon grass only to lose it. Better off starting with the least expensive and watch how fast it'll fill in each year. Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Fountain Grass on sale

Two of the three finally put out new growth. Since they were so small I dug them up and potted them. Seeing new ones at the nursery was hard to resist so I decided to try again. Bought three qt. size pots and 1 gallon "Fireworks". Next winter I'll cover them when hard freezes are predicted. Am still looking for one that's a guaranteed perennial. Something in the 3 foot range. Suggestions?

There is an old thread on the GW United Kingdom forum on this subject where some people have tried overwintering it. They said it doesn't go dormant and it needs to be kept above 50 degrees in a window. It dies in the dark. Sounds less than easy to get one through winter unless you have a greenhouse or nice bright southern window. The OG Forum isn't as friendly or chatty like this forum, more of a cut and dry factual place but you can get good information from Donn who does know grasses and has good advice. Its been kind of dead over there lately. Really, I think just experiment the best you can, the answer is sort of obvious since its zone 9. You will definitely loose it in the ground so there is nothing to loose in trying.