Hi John. welcome to ATP! Where abouts in Sonoma County are you? More inland? I am in Sebastopol. What local nurseries have you shopped? Have you gone to Cottage Gardens in Petaluma? They have an excellant succulent collection and a beautiful display area!
I can also highly recommend a small nursery, Peacock Nursery on 116
http://peacockhorticulturalnur..., he has a great selection of sempervivum in the back of the nursery in full sun. A real fun nursery to peruse.
I moved here just over 2 years ago from the Bay Area so I went from a 9b to 9a, just enough difference for some of my succulents that are more frost tender like my aeoniums. I have most in pots near the house or tucked under trees and they all recovered from this past winter.
I have a few sempervivums, this shot is of a bowl I brought with me, it's in over half day sun and gets afternoon shade, when it's the warmest.
This noid one I planted underneath a large rose so it only gets some morning sun. Seems quite happy here.
An aeonium that I planted under a crepe myrtle, it had frost damage but each stem has now produced a large cluster.
One of my favorite aeoniums, not sure which one, the cold rarely affects it, probably because of the thicker leaves.
One plant that I leave out in full sun is
Graptoveria (XGraptoveria 'Fred Ives') because I love the color changes from the heat and cold stress.
Graptosedum (XGraptosedum 'Pinky') is popped in pots all over the garden, full sun, part shade, regular potting mix with other perennials, no winter protection. It does not care!
http://www.anniesannuals.com/p...
