Once again, Annie flubbed it. The tag I was recalling must have been for another plant, not the gardenias. I am so sorry about that mistaken info. BUT, it is cold hardy for 10 to 0 degrees (Zone 7), not just zone 8-10, so that is still pretty good. I went out and got the tag off one of the Gardenias. Here it is: Gardenia augusta, 'Crown Jewel' Crown Jewel Gardenia from Garden Debut A low-growing, spreading-to-prostrate Gardenia with double white, medium-sized flowers in early summer. Bright green foliage is medium to small sized for the species. Prefers well drained, moist soil. Campanion plants: Twist of Lie Variegated Abelia Golden Dream Boxwood Bunny Blue Sedge grass (shows images of each) Use: Used as a focal form in small landscapes and gardens Care: Newly planted landscapes require more frequent watering than established plants. Wind, temperature and soil tpe are factors to consider in determining watering. Mulching holds moisture and cools in the summer, and insulates in the winter. Hardiness: (already stated above) Cold Hardy to 10 to 0 degrees, (Zone 7) Flowering (already stated above) Double white blooms in early summer Exposure: Partial Shade for best performance Watering: (already stated above) Average size: 2 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Fertilizing: Feed early spring and early fall with an all-purpose fertilizer. ---------------------------------------------------------- Apparently this is a small company that breeds winter hardy plants for this region, located here in Oklahoma. That is why the Farm Center buys some of their plants from them. From plant descriptions, it sounds like their plants are guaranteed hardy for Zones 6b to 9. Check out their other plants. I love their daylilies, and their 'Twist of Lime Abelia' and the 'Crystal Falls Mondo Grass', especially. Once again, sorry for my misstated facts about this plant. Some of the flower buds began opening today and they smell so wonderful! ~Annie Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Debut

My one tree just started breaking bud now The roots might of got damaged from last winter, they were in an un heated garage too

Such pretty flowers!!! I agree with everyone else. I used to live in Fountain Valley. My babies were under the deck (covered), but in full south facing sun. I also kept it out of the rain as much as possible (but still in the sun). They rarely dropped leaves, would continue growing them, some would even start to push inflows again when we'd have warm spells. If you can find a nice covered south facing area, in which they get full sun all day, I'd put them there and leave them. I also lived in Newport Beach (where it's overcast almost year-round), and my plants did fine outside. Even when it was hailing and freezing. I never even knew I was supposed to "winterize" them until I moved to Oregon this past July. Good luck. I hope they keep blooming. I know a handful of my adopted out plants are still blooming a lot.

Try posting this on the house plant forum.