I can't believe you can't get yours to bloom Donna! You are so good at getting everything to bloom. I bought my bulbs from Southern Bulb Co in the spring of 2011. Mixed into the Johnsonii were this bulb, and another that bloomed pink (the vendor replaced the bulbs that were not true to type). So the year would be correct for the introduction of Sophisticate. I don't know what vendor they got their bulbs through, but I know they sourced them from another vendor rather than growing them themselves. They tried finding out what the pink one was from their source, but were not able to get an id. The purple scaped one didn't bloom the first year, and last year it bloomed at a lower height, so it was less apparent that it was a different type, but this year it is clearly different. Whatever it is, you are right, it is a very robust plant. It has made several offsets, and the mother bulb put up 3 scapes this year. I wonder if the pot you have it in is big enough. Looking at my bulb plus its offsets, the clump is easily a foot across, the offsets like to pop up a good ways from the parent bulb. I hope you can get yours to bloom!

Funny how you mentioned you probably wouldn't be interested in reds. I've felt the same way, in general. In fact, I've decided not to buy any new reds and just trade for them down the road, when I separate offsets. No telling how long that notion will last (LOL). But this year is a little different and I'm appreciating my reds a little more. I have Miracle, Floris Hekker, Royal Velvet, Basuto, Red Lion and Benfica all blooming at the same time. And Liberty and Double-Six are ready to open. So, I'm getting the chance to compare them and make notes about their growth habits. As you know, the differences are subtle, but if one looks at all their characteristics, there are differences.

Try Australian Outback Plantation. If it is from Australia and grows here, they will have it. THey are way out in Tonopah but I know they regularly sell at the DBG plant sale (one coming up 10-13 through 15.) Here is a link that might be useful: Outback Plantation

They are mostly doing well. We have Sabals, Brahea Armatas, W. filiferas and Robustas,Butias, Chaemarops which are all doing well (the Robustas with their typical Las Cruces frost burn which is replaced by beautiful new fronds in March and April). I have a small Jubea which winters over nicely but is sooooo slow growing. I am about to bite the bullit and spend a lot on a 24" box sized specimen from California --- it has a reasonable size trunk now, so should grow moderately fast. They are so beautiful --- only coconut relative which is cold hardy. There are a couple of gorgeous specimens with good size trunk in El Paso, so they should do well in Las Cruces (my small one has breezed through 3 winters without leaf loss). This is what happens when one is palm obsessed, I guess. At least in my case........ Good luck in Tucson. I love Bach's nursery --- I have several of their Trichocereus Tercheckii, some of which are now 8+ feet and sprouting arms. Probably will bring back some more this Spring. I'll have to check out Miles To Go --- never been there. Peace, dl.