I need to know if a brugmansia can survive outside in zone 5 if I blanket the "tree" really well before frost?

Question

I live in Northern Indiana and have a 6 foot brugmansia. Can it survive outside if I insulate the ground around the base of this huge plant. It is the size of a small tree. It's hard to dig it up and take inside every fall.

Answer 1

I wouldn't chance it. I'm in Zone 5 also, and one of mine caught a light frost last autumn, completely defoliated, and nearly died. I actually have 2 Brugmansia that I grew from cuttings purchased from a S.Carolina grower on eBay. I've been growing them as potted plants, and they are both well over 7 feet tall now.

I overwinter my plants in the basement under a grow light. They do loose most of their leaves and do not require much water over winter, but they at least stay warm enough to survive until spring.

Answer 2

not a hope....

http://www.floridata.com/ref/b/brug_sua.cfm

to keep your plant, take cuttings and start them over winter so you have a new plant or TWO, to put out in spring!....