I proposed the update to growing zone hardiness to reflect z5. My reason for starting this topic is principally because basjoos principal popularity is due to its exceptional winter hardiness. While sikkimensis is also a fairly hardy variety, my research indicates frozen soil will usually equate with a dead plant. This is not so with basjoo which will tolerate frozen soil.
It should be noted however that this entry will be the only one I've run across in the DB which notes a hardiness zone which requires winter protection. I've also been growing Acanthus Mollis for 3 winters now and it's doing beautifully. Last winter we had temps. below -14F with snow cover and the 2' of mulch cover I use. I would not imply A. mollis is hardy to z5 however. MOBOT also indicates that mulch should be used in z8 or lower. I don't recall reading anything on basjoo in z8 as growers there seem to focus on the edible bananas, at least here in N.A.
Tee do you mulch your basjoo?
