Same here, planted mine last year(Basjoo), it was about 3' in june 05'. Stored it during winter, back out on 4/1/06, looked at it tonight and bloom is just pushing out(stalk is 7'+).
This plant has already pushed up three pups since 4/1/06 and now I know why. Took 3 large pups off at the end of last year too. By the way i'm in hampton roads.