redsox, I had to laugh, I just did the same thing trying to find out if I'm 6 a or b and all the maps were so small I couldn't read any of them. Really someone has to make one of these for people who don't have 20/20 vision. When I put my zip in the second link it said I was 5b and I know that's not right. I'm smack dab in the middle of that zone 6 chip on the southeastern side of MI. Besides I grow a lot of things that would not survive in zone 5 winters. I like Zack's idea. I do know that the back wall of my house is always way warmer than any other place in the yard.

Actually, I just remembered a long time ago my friend had a California fan palm in his back yard, and it was grown locally from seed. I believe it was in the ground for quiet a few years and it was well established. It pulled through the winters unprotected, but his neighbor hood "code" made him cut it down because it still had the beard on it and even when pruned they still did not like it, he was not so happy about that. But I think I will be going with the California fan palm. Our winters are dry and it only gets really cold here for about 2 weeks until it starts to warm up. I'll give it a try!

Sorry for the late reply, HU-243901113. I don't regularly fertilize my Jiaogulan plants, but do occasionally water them with some 'Foliage Pro' in the water, which is what I water my citrus trees with. My first year growing them I kept them in a near total shady spot, and they grew very slowly. When I moved them to a sunnier spot they grew much faster, but too much sun wilted them badly. I now keep mine in a spot were they get the morning sun, and afternoon shade when the day is hotter. They have thrived in that spot. I started/grew Jiaogulan plants last winter in a SunBlaster Grow Light Garden kit I got off Amazon, and it worked OK. I also have put them in a window where they grow, but not as fast as when outdoors. Most of the Jiaogulan roots in the pictures above died this past winter (I should have moved them to a more protected area when the prolong super cold temps came), but they produced a lot of berries last year which I harvested for seed (berries are not edible by the way). Those seeds germinated and I now have replacement plants just as good as the ones above. When they sprouted, the vines had 3 leafs, but now they have matured into 5 leaf Jiaogulan plants. I don't think I'd be willing to sell any of my plants. I got my starter plants from Joe Hollis of Mountain Gardens Herbs, and highly recommend purchasing plants from him. I have purchased plants elsewhere. Not all Jiaogulan plants taste them same, some are bitter, some sweeter, some have no flavor at all. The bare root plants I got from Hollis were most vigorous and had a pleasant taste. I use mostly the leaves for tea, as most of the beneficial properties in Jiaogulan are concentrated in the leaves, from what I have read. I don't *think* the roots or flowers are edible (haven't confirmed they are), but I have read in Jiaogulan resource books that the berries should not be consumed. . Good luck!

I did a quick rearch: The textlies get too tall The golden is invasive The karr not drought hardy Why bamboo? It can be lovely but it can look rangey and thin with a leaves that turn brown and fall everywhere all year. Not really good for privacy or wind screen IMO. 200 feet would be a lot of bamboo so consider a just few nice specimens mixed in with your other bushes. There are lots of nice plants that grow in the Bay Area. You don't explain or show any photos of why you need to plant anything...is this for decorative or functional purposes? The only bamboo I've planted I got at Coscto and it was called Pandaboo. It's lush and about 6 feet when mature. It's on a drip system and does not spread. Be sure about that!