I'm in zone 6. Leilanie and Sunrise did not survive for me. Hot Papaya, Pow Wow Berry, White Swan, Kims Knee High, Sombrero are pretty much healthy this year. The marmalade I have is barely surviving.

This post was edited by peony05 on Thu, Jun 6, 13 at 14:08

Here in zone 6, the only one I've lost was Pink Double Delight. It never made it through it's first winter. I've had these for six years now:
Sunrise
Sunset
Harvest Moon
Summer Sun

Three Years:
Tiki Torch

Two years:
Milkshake
Powwow Wildberry

One year:
Colorburst Orange-can't wait to see this one!

All are healthy and some are ready to bloom already. I don't do anything special to over-winter them. They are all mulched and fed occasionally.

Linda

Here in Zone 5 Canada

Those have survived two winters.

Deep Rose Primadonna
Powwow Wild Berry
Hot Papaya

I have had Magnus for many years

Hot Papaya is back for me this year (this will be year #2). Pink Double Delight and Tiki Torch appear to have disappeared. PDD for sure, Tiki Torch 99% sure. There's a Ech NEAR where it was...but I dont' think it's actually where it was so I think it's a self seeded plant. However, since it's nearby, it might be that somehow the tag migrated. Also, and unknown ech in the "sun" series (I think Sunset but it was a lost tag special so I'm not sure) seems to be back. There were a few echs there so I'm not positive on that one yet either.

When the hybrids first came out, it seemed to me that they would have more problems with wet winters than cold ones. Given the responses over the years, I have yet to change that opinion.

So the borderline of where they can grow successfully is going to be west vs east instead of south vs north.

Powwow White survived the winter for me. The only other ones I have are the old iron horses White Swan and Magnus and one Pink Poodle that I adore, although just one clump of that, other clumps of PP have perished.

I'm now in Z6 but was Z5 until last January. My most reliable plants have been the species and 'White Swan.' None of the new echs have survived or thrived in my beds where other perennials have out-performed them + reliably come back year after year. As long as the bees, birds & butterflies are happy with the ones that thrive, I won't waste time, effort or $$ on any of the over-rated 'new' varieties that seem to be pushed at gardeners year after year. I only ever planted them to begin with for the critters...okay, also for the long-lasting flowers, too...but my garden priorities have shifted over the years to only growing what I can plant, forget, enjoy & ignore.

Pow wow pink and white are back along with tiki torch and primadonna white. All for more than one year.

Mad gallica, I am sure you are right. However- and this has been said many times before- one has to wonder where the hybrids were field tested before being marketed. Also, I wonder if a hybridizer and growers would withhold a plants from a geographical market where it wasn't successful b/c of different climate /environmental conditions than where it originated.
On the other hand, if I read a plant "dislikes wet winters" I honestly wouldn't think to describe New England as having "wet winters." I'm not sure if that is a case of ignorance or self-delusion coupled with a plant fool's optimism!
marie

The first group of hybrids (I forget which one that would be) were field tested outside of Chicago. I believe there are garden centers in the East Coast that have stopped selling them because of poor performance.

These are the average monthly precipitation amounts for Boston and Chicago. Jut to give some idea of what the difference is.

Boston -
Dec 3.78
Jan 3.36
Feb 3.25
Mar 4.32

Chicago
Dec 2.57
Jan 2.06
Feb 1.94
Mar 2.72

yep - they have dropped off the radar in the UK because of such dismal performance. I recall when we all got excited over Tomato Soup and Tiki Torch....and not 1 single person in my whole garden society managed to get a repeat.

We just stick with the earliest pinks and whites and so far, they seem to be the best. As for seed raised strains such as Cheyenne Spirit and Magic Rainbows - feh!

Coconut Lime and Milkshake bought from Bluestone not only have survived but are magnificent this year. Just now putting in Flamethrower, Green jewel, Secret Joy and Secret Desire hopefully they will be as good. I am in zone 5 or 6 (seems like everyone has a different opinion on zones). If it helps, I am just 20 minutes due east of Columbus Ohio.

Of the " first wave" the only survivors are Razzaammattazz and Coconut Lime. The flowers on the latter one are smaller, less and less visible each year.
Of the newer ones, 2 winters have been survived by Hot Papaya, Marmalade and Irressistible. I only included those who survived without shrinkage. There are some microscopical things still returning on some others.

Anything named Flamethrower is all right in my book ---> J. Geils, anyone?

(I know, I know, totally off topic....but it makes me laugh)

Here the Boston area the
Big Sky series isn't seen very often,
it was all the rage 4 years ago.
mg: the figures speak for themselves.
But it is relative: comparing NE to Chicago
is one thing; compared to rain in Louisiana or
Washington State (the wet side) NE isn't
very dry, though we do have "droughts."
The echs that have lived are coming up very strong
and fast. I really can't remember what is where,
surprise me, too!

I meant to write, compared to.....New England isn't very wet.....

I vowed to never buy any of the new varieties since I've wasted so much money and they're so unreliable. I'll stick to the plain ole purples and whites. The goldfinches thank me every year.

Zone 6b

I have more then below, but they are just from last year.. or i forget where they are.. so I will wait until they bloom to verify they are good from the winter.

Tangerine Dream
Hot Lava
Coconut Lime
Flame Thrower
Hot Papaya
All that Jazz
Cotton Candy
Green Envy
Green Jewel
Sunrise
Summer Sky
Summer Sun
Pica Bella
Pink Poodle
Tiki Torch
Raspberry Tart
Raspberry Truffle
Double Scoop Raspberry

Here's the ech beds so far this year. The paradox, pallida, and crosses with them are the first to bloom. Only a few of the hybrids have bloomed yet.

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