Lou, I couldn't refer to embothrium as really hardy...as in a tree you can plant and not have to worry about it making it thru the winter in mainland BC. The islands and further south it seems much more reliable.
UBC actually had a couple large ones for many years which both disappeared after rough winters...some of us have suspected their provenance wasn't the greatest being wide leaved and steadfastly evergreen. My embothriums, originally from Sandeman seeds in Europe, seem a bit hardier, with long narrow deciduous foliage...but have been burnt to the ground in south Surrey colder winters.
I can certainly give you a seedling if you're ever out Brookswood way...try to find a spot protected from our danged outflows and it may surprise us!
Statistics: Posted by Glen in Surrey — Mon May 19, 2014 11:37 am