Are they already blooming in your area, David? Mine isn't even budded up yet.

They've been blooming for about a month already here in Berkeley/Alameda, and I've seen them in partial bloom as early as March if they are planted in a warm protected spot.

I bought one from Annie about five years ago. It grows well but the bloom is on the wood grown last summer, and here the frost burns back the wood every year. I have only seen one flower so far. I have started a cutting and will try and find a space somewhere here that has enough room for it and will not frost. Al

Thanks to you, David, I now have 7 of these lovely trees/shrubs in my yard. 3 larger ones that are planted behind my large fountain, and 4 more at the entrance to my lower yard by my wrought iron gate. I know 3 of them are 'Hot Pants', not sure about the other 4, which are from Hortus Botanicus. They'll be a surprise, I guess. Looking forward to blooms next year for me!

Patty S.

They look a lot better than a Brug, foliage-wise. Less messy?

The growth habit is rather strange, kinda like a shrub vine. I have mine tied to a vine support, but it is also growing through a rose. It does not branch often, I have not tried to force branches through pruning (yet). No frost damage this winter so it bloomed in April. The foliage is nothing like a Brug, the leaves are small and serrated and grow all along the branch; the flowers have the brug shape but are much smaller; larger but similar to Iochroma.

starts easily from cuttings :)

Chad