Heidi, you can expect some really good performance from this plant. I'm in zone 6a (formerly a 5b, like yours) and it does really well here. I've had it for 2-3 years now and it always has lots of beautiful, peachy little buds.
A little more about it:
Reliable performer. Thin scapes, but the scapes hold the small blooms well and don't need supporting. Color is consistent and I rarely get 'bad blooms' on it. Today I did get one that was a chimera (looked like a poly, but there were two stamens fused together and two of the petals were fused, which gave it away). It is an EARLY, just like the name says. It is one of the earliest bloomers in my garden, for sure.
For hybridizing: Both pod and pollen fertile. I would say it is average on both, but I haven't double-checked my records prior to posting this, so I am not certain of that analysis. I do know, for a fact, that I have had pods on it and pods formed from its pollen, though.
Another note: Early and Often (and TET Stella d'Oro) have both attracted hundreds of these tiny, beige/tan-colored bugs. They don't appear to be doing any damage, but they are abundant and crawled all over me in just the few seconds I was holding the scape (to write the pollination code on it) today. I have no idea what they are, but it is worth noting. Since the only two plants I have noticed them on so far are Early and Often and Tet Stella, I am thinking that they are attracted to yellow, sweet-smelling blooms?...
I normally post a picture, but since Jon posted one of my pictures--thanks Jon!!!--I'll pass on posting for now.
