Does anyone here know how hardy Heimia salicifolia is?

Would it grow in zone 8b/9a? - Northern Florida

Where I am at it can get down to 30 degrees in the winter and sometimes even lower than that but that is pretty rare occurence.

Does Heimia tolerate a brief light frost or would it lose alot of leaves then?

I believe it will be fine there.

Yep it will. Mine does fine in 7(b i think). Atl, Ga area. It might loose its leaves, but itll grow back.

Mine survived the winter here (in ga), but my dogs beat it up. So, im not sure if it lost its leaves, or if the dogs helped.