Here's a pic of the Asian Spice Bush that you asked about. This is what it looks like now and for the rest of the winter. It does indeed hold onto its leaves. I can't help you with your question about zone 5 but to me they really look like large, dead shrubs all winter.
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is the time stamp for real ...

sam is answering a 5 and a half year old .. never answered post????

never saw that before ...

ken

A grouping of Asian Spice Bush in a parking island. If you look closely they are loaded with black berries. Notice all the leaves from last year on the ground, the leaves of this plant are like plastic.

Ken, I believe that time stamp on my original post is correct! I finally bought a single small plant via mail order in spring 2011. I originally had it in a location where it got too much shade and didn't do anything for two years. I moved it to a sunnier spot and it's doing great, but I lost two years of growth. Mine (in Indianapolis) looks more reddish today than the above photo, kind of a pastel orange. It'll be a few years, but I think it's going to be a very nice plant.

Tom

Talk about loyal GardenWebbers.