Brown Eye - Thanks for the kind words! You're right about it not looking bad in the winter - easily cleaned up.
Fishguy - they are very hardy, and evidently growing happily in Massachusetts, borderline Zone 6a/5. If you don't know your zone (which will determine the hardiness) I can help you find out. Or do a google, and we can determine if it's hardy there.
But simply put, it should be. The native species are extremely hardy to begin with.