I bought three big ferns last year and they are monsters now! They are growing in giant pots and I drag them on the poarch if it freezes. Kimberly Queen is the name. Good luck!

I think in zone 8 to be safe you will need to take in or move close to your house and cover almost anything in a hanging basket if the weather gets below 40 overnight. I have lost several plants leaving them out in the mid thirties.

Thanks for the replies - my neighbor has something in hanging baskets that she leaves out year round. I'm in Baton Rouge - so 35-40 is about as cold as it gets, although last year we got below freezing quite a few times. I remember my neighbor saying that if it does get too cold, they die back a bit, but come back when it warms up. They'd be hanging under the eves on my front proch - about 5 feet from the house.