Sorry, I should add to my post above that we no longer get any snow worth talking about, but occasionally get nights below 10 degrees.

Erica carnea is probably the most fail-safe. But some people say Erica vagans is the most drought tolerant. To me they are both pretty tough once established. Do water them their first year if it gets droughty.

Try contacting Rock Spray nursery. Smail mail order plants are probably going to be cheaper than what you can buy at a local garden center. In my experience heaths are VERY easy to establish from small 4" pots. Heathers...a little harder.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.rockspray.com/

Laceyvail, did you ever plant heaths or heathers? I've only just discovered these plants and have little knowledge about them. I'm in SE Wisconsin, so I'm wondering how they perform in our zone (also 5b).