Hi, I have seen these advertised as hardy, but I don't always believe what the big growers say, especially as most of them are in the channel islands, where it is a lot warmer than where I am in north west england, so you pay your money and take your chances, Derek.

All depends on the winter we get I would think, last year was so mild but 2010 we froze for weeks......

My local garden centre in the south east has been selling hardy gerberas for a few years now. They have planted some in their show beds and they have come through even fairly severe winters. I would say that if you have a reasonably sheltered situation with not too heavy soil, then I would give them a go. If you intend to grow in pots, the only danger would be if the pot freezes and the cold destroys the roots. So I would shelter the pots overwinter.

Thank you for the responses ! I'm going to give them a whirl. I have one of those mini plastic greenhouses so I will put some in there and leave some in a big pot outside and keep my fingers crossed that they emerge next spring ! I think Derek is right to be cautious about breeders claims..
Hopefully I will be reporting back next spring with the good news ( She says optimistically !!! )