Question
QUESTION: Just bought a perennial (says on the tag: perennial - comes back year after year) from Walmart.
I live in N. Illinois.
I don't believe they are perennial in my climate.
I'm tired of getting ripped off by stores (Home Depot too) selling annuals, in my climate, as perennials.
I'll keep track of the receipt and return what's left next spring for a full refund.
DO you think it is a perennial in my climate?

ANSWER: Hi Paul,
Thanx for your question.  Unfortunately, calla lilies are not hardy in your Northern Illinois climate.  The rhizomes have to be lifted (dug up) in the fall after the first frost, dirt brushed off (not washed off) and stored in a cool, dark, dry basement for the winter.  I agree that a lot of the Big Box stores sell plants to us that are not hardy in our area and they don't tell us.  Part of the reason is very few of their garden folks are truly trained in horticulture.  That's why I prefer the independent nurseries.  Better service, more knowledge and likelier to be more honest or at least aware of the suitability of a plant for our particular area.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I do blame the Big Box stores but I think the real perpetrators of this scam are the plant growers. The container label for my Call Lily printed by the grower (from MI) states: "perennial - comes back year after year".
I do not consider anything I have to dig up in the fall and store in my basement as a perennial.
The plant grower gets their money from Walmart. Walmart will refund me my money next year when I bring the rotted remains back. Very unlikely Walmart goes back to the grower for the credit a year later.
P.S. I don't have a problem digging things up and storing them. My basement seems to get more and more of them every winter. I've got calla lilly rhizomes in a container right now that don't seem to be doing much, yet. My problem is the scam of calling them perennials in my growing zone when they are clearly not. The legal description for that is fraud. Maybe 1 out of 100 hundred consumers save the receipt and container for a year and would take back the rotted remains back!!! Nothing but a tiny cost of doing business for Walmart.

Answer
Paul,
I totally agree with you.  A lot of the plant growers are giant corporations that answer to stockholders.  I'm all for people making money including stockholders but not when the means are ethically and morally questionable.  I think good business goes miles ahead of the quick and dirty profits now when that good business is up front and honest.  I may not be able to sell you a particular item this time because I was honest with you and the item I had for sale did not meet your needs.  When you, customer, realize that I'm going to be square with you, you'll be back time and time again for other items I have.  The least thing the growers could do is put the hardiness zones on the tags of the plants.  But, most don't.  Good luck and hang in there!
Tom