We planted a couple of Euptelea pleiosperma here about a year ago, full sun, plants about ten feet tall, with maybe an inch stem. They took well to their sites and put on good growth for new transplants, but didn't harden off in time during the fall. Here's what did it, the first freeze last fall (high/low in F. for the dates indicated):

Oct. 13--72/33

Oct. 14--67/36

Oct. 15--73/42

Oct. 16--71/40

Oct. 17--47/29

Oct. 18--47/26

Result--the bark cracked off around the entire stem of both from ground level up several feet, and the foliage went black and crisp within a week. Numerous other tree species that from a zonal standpoint are rated as more tender than Euptelea were not affected in the least, e.g., Chinese Tuliptree, Chinese Tupelo, Deodar Cedar. Too bad, it was an attractive tree that seemed to be thriving in the hot sunny summer, and should've had good fall color.

The temps shown above are far from unusual for the first freeze here; it would not have been too remarkable if the cold front had brought lows of 18 or 20. I guess you need a more gradual descent into winter to grow this tree. I noticed today that one of them is sprouting strongly from the roots, about an inch away from the stem...not sure what we'll do with it.