Question
I live in Northeastern Wisconsin and picked up a Carol Mackie tree at a local nursery that had split.  It's doing great now, but I'm very concerned with how cold it's getting just how hardy this plant is.

Should I cover it?  Will it withstand the cold winters here in Wisconsin?  What should I do?

Thanks!

Answer
A Carol Mackie Daphne tree? that is one I have not yet seen or heard of, I hope to some day, as I use the shrub form in my landscape designs often. I can only assume that it is a tree form, simular to a Dwarf Korean Lilac tree, or Pee Gee Hydrangea tree, where they are actually grafted onto stock of another tree plant, and grown as a tree. in that case I would figure they are hardy, as they tend to graft them onto hardier stock than the plant itself. the Carol Mackie itslef is hardy to as much as 30 below zero, and still does fine. if it is in a very open area, away from a building, where wind may get to it, you could try and cover it, but it is so hard to cover plants that are tree form. the only thing I can think of would be to build a sort of shelter around it, and let snow fill into it and cover it, as the snow will provide some protection for the plant. dont dump heavy snow onto it, or you may break some branches, only loose packed snow would work. this is all I can think of, you may want to check with the nursery that you got it from, and they may know more on the hardiness of it, and or if they have gotten many back in other years.
sorry I dont know more about this plant, I sure hope to in the future. Thanks, and good luck with you Carol Mackie Tree.
Happy Gardening

Mark