I have wanted to try some of these for years. There's a lot of shade in my yard, and I love bright color in Fall: whatever I can get that will show through fallen leaves is likely to be aces with me. [grin] A month ago, I purchased small starters: two each of two different varieties. I gave them a little peat and chicken manure, because I've read that they like acidic soil. They are in two different locations. (Both get some morning sun in Spring, but less sun later on as the trees leaf out.) It's only in the last week or so that I've seen any new growth on them, but I'm optimistic. I was also warned that slugs regard them as the caviar of the plant kingdom, so I've been keeping traps near both areas. (I've seen a few nibbles of the lower leaves, but nothing serious.) Wish me luck! :) This post was edited by ms_xeno on Tue, May 6, 14 at 15:53

I have the Miyazaki hybrids with muted shades of purple flowers. These do bloom quite late for me in zone 5 and often get hit by frost shortly after they start to flower. I actually enjoy these most in the early spring as they are just emerging along with ferns and hosta. They get 1 1/2 to 2 ft tall and slowly form nice clumps. They divide easily and I have moved them to a couple of different areas in my yard. I think they are susceptible to dry conditions though and they are flourishing with all the rain we have had this year. I recently moved some to a slow draining area, so it will be interesting to see how they do in that area. This year something has started nibbling the top growth. I do have plenty of deer and rabbits and recently also saw a woodchuck in the yard.

I've been trying different varieties of trycirtis for about 6 years now. Love them. They like good drainage. The moisture is good, but they will rot out if the soil doesn't drain. I killed a Miyazaki last year by putting it into a soil that was heavy clay without raising it. It could have taken the clay, but it was too wet during the winter. The best environments I've found were in highly organic, raised beds with a good quality bark mulch. One time I planted Shirohotogisu between 2 raised boulders and put about 6" of mulch on top in the fall - it just went wild. That location had very high shade but no direct sun. Regarding sun - I would avoid afternoon sun if possible, it might be a bit harsh this year especially as hot and dry as it's been. I have 2 established clumps of T. tojen that are now about 3 ft across and continue to spread. They have had more sun this year and are probably 10" shorter than last year which was so rainy and cool. If you can, I'd move at least one to a different location with only morning sun to try to make sure you keep at least 1 or 2 alive. I've often done that with my favorites as I continue to get to know this plant. One of my favorite plant combinations for the season is T. Shirohotogisu ( white) with Chelone 'Hot Lips' and a medium sized deep blue Aconitum. They bloom together and its a beautiful grouping. Beware the rabbits, deer and I don't know who else - they like to pick the flower buds off right before they bloom, and because its so low to the ground pretty much every varmint can reach it. I use stinky deer spray on it as blooming time gets near to train the deer and rabbits to stay off.

Paul, I know what your saying. Atmospheric light plays a part as well. In summer the sun is so intense and the landscape is so dry around here that appropriate plants look better than, say--- tropical plants which I guess do look a bit better if a person is wearing sunglasses to knock off some of the intensity and bring out the gaudy colors and over sized leaves etc that clash with the rest of the landscape. Its like seeing a gaudy bar room thats usually lit dimly for atmosphere all exposed in the harsh daylight with open shades. I absolutely hate seeing tropical looking plants in Oklahoma. It just doesn't work and looks stupid. Even worse is to add in a few specimens around non-descript shrubs or grasses because you feel for the novelty and just had to have one. You know, like just plunk in hardy palm right in the midst of your shrubbery. Nice. Or like up the street with the palms planted behind a row of dusty miller. That one makes me nauseated to look at. I'm probably prejudiced since tropical, big leaves, big gaudy flowers etc aren't my cup-o-tea anyhow but I still say its not a good fit visually down here in Okie-ville. (Unless maybe its a botanical garden situation visually cut off from the rest of the world to visit as a curiosity)