They're a very nice looking plant, especially when they get tall. It'll be appreciating the shade as much as the car owners do.

So you think that's what it is, too? I looked up the ZIP code on the zone finder and it says zone 8 but I think that's covering an area fairly far from the coastline, so they probably go with the lowest readings within the ZIP. Are some Philos not damaged by frost? I'm pretty sure there's some frost there sometimes, or does being that close to the coast offer that much protection? The temp report on weather.com is probably taken somewhere inland and it may stay warmer right next to the water. And it's surrounded on 3 sides by black pavement.

Doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would have been put in that spot on purpose. Wonder how it got there?

This plant was commonly planted around Hilton Head when I lived in the area.

I've read on threads where people have had plants die back after frost but still re-shoot when it warms up again. That's a relatively small plant so leaf litter and it's own leaves falling on it might just be enough protection. Whatever, the plant still seems to be doing okay.

The building we were visiting is now a pontoon rental place but used to be a private home, at least that's what it looks like. I wonder if this was put here years ago when it was a private home (maybe it crawled out of a pot) and it gets knocked back every winter.

Rhizo, wish I had taken more pics when we visited HH in the early 90's. I was waddling around on the beach in a bikini. I'm pretty sure the plant above is not part of a "landscaping plan," if that makes sense. That's why I was so surprised to see it, it must have been surviving on neglect for at least a few years.