I was googling online about this very subject and was pleased to find this topic. Though I'm still unsure of answer. I purchased 3 of these from Santa Rosa Gardens when they were on sale. Then, upon recieving them, I started researching and getting conflicting info. Online,after a lot of browsing, sources state EVERYTHING from hardiness to zone 5, 6, 6B (whatever that is) to zone 7. The tag with the plants SEEMS to say hardy to minus 10 degrees, though it's hard to make out, as the "minus" sign in front of the 10 almost appears like a smudge. However, the site I got it from (Santa Rosa Gardens states zone 6). I'm growing in 3 pots for now, but would love to place in the ground. Consequently, would hate to lose them in our zone 6 winters (SW PA). Some plants I don't care if they may perish, others I like more... it must be novelty. It's SO hard for me to believe that one plant can be listed in so many diffferent sources as so many diff. hardiness zones. I always tend to plan for an unusually cold, nasty winter.. that may happen. I guess I could always dig up in late autumn and place in pots to store in protected area (basement). I do love the looks of this plant, and hey... if they must stay in pots, so be it. I'll be interested further on in more info about hardiness as it becomes more available. I also think of additional winter protection if they were in ground, but don't want to rot or otherwise harm a plant that doesn't seem to appreciate excessive moisture. I know my response to this is outdated, as compared to the original posts here.

There are lots of differences besides vegetation: As a person born and bred in Baltimore ( 40 years in NH and MA) I never ever miss the humidity of a DC/Balto summer. It is insufferable. However, east coast MA & NH have equally hot spells and humidity, just not week after week after week.. As you know, Md and DC are 4 season climates....there is certainly spring (long) summer (hellish) fall (just fine) and winter ( just not so snowy so often so long) You would not miss the drivers who have never learned to drive in snow. On the other hand, you'll have to learn. You will lose two months of real warm weather gardening and the long lovely springs which encourage azaleas. New England springs are rather short and violent.....here today, gone tomorrow. But beautiful, for sure. Oh yes, it can snow on May 1. You will miss reliably delicious tomatoes you can grow yourself, the operative word is reliably and soft shell crabs ....real crabcakes. (though you have to search as far and wide down there as you do here for the authentic lump crab) You can get Bud here. Maples we have, but the oaks down your way are fine. I miss the southern graciousness and friendliness that linger in more southern areas. Many parts of New England are more racially segregated than the greater metro area. I continued to be startled by that whenever I went home or visited DC. Maybe I wax nostalgic and inaccurate, maybe times have changed.....but around here one rarely "stops" by for a beer or a drink after work, people don't "drop in" or "drop by" . At least where I live, nobody hangs out on their front steps or front yard, though you'll certainly get a wave from the neighbors. Sure, we chat when we get to know each other, but I honestly think people are more reserved here. Maybe in part because we're holed up so long in winter. I feel very homesick right now.

I fully understand what you are saying about Family Tree. They have a 'Peaches and Cream' that I would like to have, but they have it marked $100. That's insane for a 1gallon tree that may be 12" tall. I have been to Heartland and actually went after work today and they did have some 1 gallon JMaples, but nothing of real interest to me. I'll have to check back with them from time to time. I have had several nurseries tell me that they get most of their smaller jMaples in around the end of may or beginning of June. The only jMaple that I have in the ground is a Bloodgood. I also have a Viridis that is left outside in the winter since it is in too big of a pot to move inside in the fall. The other JMaples that I currently have include: 'Aureum', 'Okushimo', 'Sango Kaku', 'Shishigashira', 'Wilson's Pink Dwarf', 'Fullmoon Maple'. Some of these are very small, but at least three of them would be big enough for a cutting or two. Feel free to email me.

z5 is about half the US ... and widely divergent.. where are you with a bit more specificity ... the redbud would not survive in my farmland z5 MI ... it might in a more sheltered micro climate ... [winter wind is the primary issue] there are two different red birches.. mine was supposed to be on the borer resistant whitespire ... pshaw on that ... and i treated it for the first few years ... not to mention .. it suckers like a tootsie pop ... so its more of a bush ... i suspect the borers basically kill a trunk.. so the roots put out more ... i really should get rid of it... not to mention.. the coloration is not great ... i dont recall my culitvar.. it may or may not be the one you are asking about ... if youa re looking for a purple leafed tree .. do NOT look at the purple plums ... but do look into the purple beeches.. Fagus ... if they will grow whereever you are ... the standard of commonly called the cooper beech ... and though they may get very huge... over the centuries.. in my MI ... they are rather slow ... got neat bark also ... and do look at the pendula versions ... now that i think about the beech .. forget about birch ... ken copper beech , also with pix of pendulas/weepers https://www.google.com/search?q=Fagus+sylvatica+Purpurea+Group&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMI4sPYtYXHxwIVjXuSCh3hUgg6&biw=865&bih=745&dpr=0.9