Dustin, have you done any research on this tree?

Hura crepitans / Sandbox Tree grows upwards of 60', has vicious spikes on the trunk and re-sows - it's considered invasive and a weed tree. Yes, it should grow in your zone, with winter protection and enough humidity and water, but WHY would you want to grow it? Exploding seed pods isn't a good reason to grow a weed plant.

And that's not the end of it. The tree exudes a lethally poisonous latex which is used by Amazonian indians for darting animals. Whilst it's unlikely to become invasive on mainland USA you should always think twice about introducing potentially harmful exotics. Just speak to someone from Hawaii about the damage that has been and is still being done to their ecosystems by introduced species.

Hi Dustin,

Hope I'm not too late & that my contribution will be of some help to those who like to live responsibly dangerous. I don't know what climate is like in zone 9, but I live in Colorado. 1. Buy pots from reputable seller (I got mine from ebay)

2. Scarify 1 side of pod with sandpaper

3. Soak pod overnight until it doubles in size

4. Plant tip of pod in a peat pellet. (I used normal size but you can use a bigger size)

5. Put pellets with pod in a plastic greenhouse (walmart sells pellets in greenhouse) on heat mat (timer set to warm house 3hr/1hr off).

6. Germination time 1 month but sporadic.

let me send you some sensitive plant--the leaves fold up when you touch them. Nasty thorns, spreads like wildfire.

How about some Himalayan Raspberry? pretty leaves, grows up trees, inch-long thorns!