Winter would kill them off here, well, winters like we had this year. I lost over a dozen of them (all potted) simply because I had no room (and did not want to make the effort

) in my greenhouse. I have never seen one actually growing in the ground in the south, other than central and south FL and southern CA. They may be growing in the ground in protected areas though. They are called a "Tree" for a reason and do get huge in tropical and sub-tropical areas.