Well then, you have a 'natural' ability ot understand their needs and they seem to respond to you very well:-) You have had that plant that long? You know, when I buy a plant before hand and they say 2 years before bloom, it seems like a long time to wait. But, looking back one would probably wonder where that time went and how fast it can fly by! Thanks for the name. It sounds like a plant not to hard to please, right up my alley for now. I hope to own one real soon. I was going to ask you if you missed your other home in which I can remember being very nice. But, you seem excited about being in Florida too. I would be for sure.. The ceilings are high outdoors there year round, and the hunidity in abundance. I'll bet you couldn't wait to see how your plants react and to try plants you once dreamed of. Mike

From what I can tell Duquesa is not a tea for the front of a bed. Mine has only actually been planted for one summer and it does none of that first year tea slow motion growth while it puts out more roots. The growth is strong right from the start and the bush is certainly a balanced looking grower with no canes growing off in odd directions. The leaves are much more like Mons. Tillier rather than the Duchess being darker in color but more slender. The blooms are very much like Duchess de Brabant but with more petals and they darken in the sun to a coppery pink. The scent is quite nice, not quite the same tea scent as Mons. Tillier. Perhaps a little more of a fruity note to it. I posted pictures on my Facebook page. Lance

Carrie,I just bought a new SLGB this summer - my old one (bought in '99) was sadly lacking in things this one has - despite the date of publication, I think it is fairly newly out - and all the illustrations/drawings are in color, as well as the entries being much expanded! To quote from the book - General for Michaelia: Magnolia relatives native to China & the Himalyas. When in flower, they might be mistaken for some kind of magnolia - but unlike magnolias, they bear their blossoms among the leaves rather than at branch ends. M. figo has been in gardens for some 200 years, and M. doltsopa has been in cultivation in North America for perhaps half a century. The other species listed here are newcomers about which we have much to learn; they have not had time to grow to maturity in North American gardens. All are attractive, with lush foliage and profuse, fragrant blossoms divided into petal-like segments. Not usually browsed by deer. The cultural requirements seem to be for partial shade in the hottest regions, otherwise full sun, and they need average amounts of water. For M. yunnanesis: Shrub or tree. Coastal and tropical south. Another newcomer. To 15' tall. Blooms in early spring, when white flowers burst from dark, velvety buds. For M.x fogggi: Shrub. Coastal and tropical south. Group of hybrids between M. figo & M. doltsopa. 'Allspice' grows 10-20' tall, 6-15' wide, with glossy green foliage; bears fruity scented, 1.5" light yellow flowers bordered in maroon from spring to early summer. 'Belle Durio', to 6-10' tall & wide, is a spring bloomer bearing 3-4" white flowers with a purple style (reproductive structure) in the center. 'Jack Fogg' grows yo 18' tall, 6-8' wide; spring flowers are white, with each segment bordered in purplish pink. Hope this helps. And I wish I were in a warmer zone; the plants sound marvelous, but it's too cold here for them, except M. figo and maudiae! And I have more than enough things to plant out from pots right now - maybe next fall.....

They are worth the price. I have had them come back and bloom for about 4 years, here in San Antonio. They bloom once and eventually the foliage dies back. Plant them with other plants that will hide the foliage as it dies. My giant white is just about done. I have several of the colored ones just peeping out of the soil. Like other "bulbs" they multiply.