Asked my dad about this plant he calls it Monk's Pepper his survived this last winter just about he said it has been very slow this year and has not bloomed as well has the last previous mild winter years.

At work, in the North-east of England, it was always the last plant to start showing leaves each year making you think it hadn't survived the winter.

I planted a small one earlier this year. It hasn't grown a lot, it's about 8inches high, now, so I'll have to hope it gets through the winter.

Incidentally, the name 'monk's pepper' is because the seeds look like pepper and eating them was supposed to keep the monk's minds on praying and not on other 'distractions'.

I looked it up on the Dave's Garden site, and it is listed as surviving to -5 to
-10F. It blooms on new wood and I have had a mild problem with scale. When planting, leave room for it to grow outwards, but it isn't hurt by strong pruning. I have bulbs planted underneath it. Seeds ripen and fall into some of my pots, and the next year I have more little ones.

Thank you all for your help. I appreciate it!

Don't believe everything you read on that Daves Garden site.....I have made significant contributions to it in the past Lol

I used to use it all the time for my horticulture course..... (Dave's Garden that is)

I find that it gives a quick answer to the question if a plant is able to grow in my zone. That if people are growing it in the SF/SD areas of California, I should be able to grow it here.

Oh Fractal - that wasn't any help, now was it? Do 'you' know about these shrubs please?

Lol, yes but I thought you were going to get a decent reply from someone.

Hardier than it looks and happy in sheltered free drained soils in sun. Leave until spring before doing any significant pruning (if needed), normally just old flower stems and any die back. Its always good to take a few cuttings in mid-late summer too. Seedlings may be less common on our shores after winter.

I've planted it this afternoon - facing SW and reasonably sheltered. It's the sunniest place that's away from winds. The soil should be fine.

It's looking good there! Thanks for your help. :-)

Mine does get the wind (gusts over 100KPH) and it hasn't damaged it, so yours should do fine. Pictures next year when it is flowering??

It is flowering, Wylie - and I've just posted a photo of it. :-)))