If it was grown in a nursery near to where you live, it should be adapted to your climate. However, there are thousands of Mammays grown in Homestead and then shipped north. Those will take a few years to acclimate themselves to your winters.

If they look beat up, cut them back hard - half the plant - and they will come back in a few months and look even better than before. They will tend to get leggy, regardless.

In 9b in a protected part of the yard, for an unusual winter would need to be covered. Schefflera regularly returns, during colder winters, will die back and come back in spring. This winter was no problem, the more mature plants handle cooler weather better.