In my native state of MI it will fill in a flower bed but I wouldn't consider it invasive there. But with the longer growing season here in CA I guess it could be. They have a nice scent if you enjoy that.

I've found it difficult to grow in my zone; not enough winter chill I think, or else I'm doing something wrong

It is not invasive in California. I grow it and for the first five years, I was killing myself to get it to take. Now it does well, but does not spread out. The secret is a daily afternoon watering. If you can get to take at all, you are lucky.

I have it established, but it acts like a spring bulb, comes up and blooms (for about 10 days) then goes dormant when the heat hits. It is spreading, but loosely, popping up here and there, I don't think it would ever get thick enough for a ground cover. the link below is a post I did earlier this spring with a picture of it in my garden

Here is a link that might be useful: lov pic

davisue, thanks so much for your input! I have it now plantd in a good size pot, think I'll leave it there till I see what kind of performance I get, especially when the weather changes. Instructions say "partial shade to shade". Being in the pot I'll be able to move it about for exposure corrections(hopefully)I'm beginning to think I have a "punishment" complex when I get plants that prove to be more tempermental than I care to deal with. Pat

We've all been tempted by zone-denial plants, Pat. But when they do work out, it's worth all the heartache. :D

Hopefully we'll get to see pics of your thriving LOV in a year or so!

Brenda