My black magic have started to come up with small leaves. I'm pretty pleased that all three bulbs have shown life. It surprises me because none of my greens have grown yet and they're usually the first to make an appearance. I have one Illustris that has made an appearance, one silver leaf that has made an appearance (which surprised me because I thought they died off last summer. They really did not thrive at all for some reason), and quite a few of Chicago Harlequin. At least, that is what I think they are. The nursery claims they were CH but I don't believe they are. I planned to get rid of them come spring but I figured I'd give them a second chance. Since they have runners, I decided to put them in a pot this spring. My Nancy Revenge died off and I really have no interest in replacing it. mrsig - I can't help but wonder if you have Black Runner if leaves have popped up farther away. Black Magic clumps together while Black Runner sends runners to grow plants further away.

ralph -- thanks for the info. I'm glad to hear excitement about these plants, too. I finally have space for large tropicals. I do want these to help shade my winter daphne until the sweet bay magnolia and dogwood mature to provide shade. I have a permanent home in mind for the c. fonanesii once those trees are doing their thing. Do you think a garage is too warm for overwintering? I also have a tool shed underneath my screened porch -- foundation on one side and the other sides are lattice -- perhaps too cold? I have this claustophobic thing about going into the crawl space (could be a job for my fearless husband!). BTW, the daphne grew much more than I thought for having only been in the ground since October. It bloomed well, too.

Hi! Does anyone know how Colocasia esculentas will do near a hot tub or pool? I plan on planting them about 5ft away, and doubt they'll get splashed every day, but I'm sure some hot/chlorinated water will get on them occasionally. Any experience with this? Thanks! If cultivar matters, I'm considering Black Magic and Mojito.

Seeds I have to trade: Mixed Hybrid sunflowers purple castor bean (lots) new zealand purple castor bean canna seeds windmill palm seeds ( from last year im not sure if they will still germinate) Seeds I am looking for: fatsia japonica Lophophora diffusa green cator bean Cardinal Vine purple hyacinth bean Helianthus sunspots (variegated sunflower) Maize quadricolour Nicotiana tabacum variegatum Amaranth coleus Amaranthus early splendor,Illumination, love lies bleeding and others large french marigolds (im open for other interesting seeds) Plants I have to trade: canna indica purpurea canna indica canna Wyoming green elephant ear black stem elephant ear castor bean seedlings opuntia humifus (easter prickley pear) Opuntia engelmannii pink ice plant purple queen callisia fragrans cow tongue cactus strawberry plants pindo palm seedling Plants I am looking for: Araucaria araucana aka monkey puzzle tree Helianthus sunspots (variegated sunflower) alocasia macrorrhiza canna australia canna intigue canna pretoria (aka bengal tiger aka tropicanna gold) canna stuttgart canna tropicanna (aka phasion) colocasia black magic colocasia black runner colocasia esculenta 'black coral' colocasia esculenta 'diamond head' colocasia esculenta 'kona coffee colocasia thai giant cordyline torbay dazzler ensete hibiscus kopper king monkey puzzle tree musa ae ae musa siam ruby musa zebrina (blood banana) spanish moss staghorn summac (tiger eyes) thunbergera alata xanthosoma lime zinger im open for other trades also