Agree that it looks like cherry. And for certain it's been trained to grow in this spiral shape.

Hi Mike, The larger BOP is the white, which grow to be trees here in Florida. You want the orange,Strelitzia reginae. Just happens to be my favorite flower. Here they're readily available at Home Depot and everywhere else, but I'm guessing you're in southern VT,NH,maybe Maine? I lived in northern NH for several years. While I was there I was getting ready to put up a greenhouse as there were too many things, including BOP, that I wanted to grow that wouldn't do well up there. Even here the BOP blooms only half the year, May - Sept. or Oct. depending on conditions that year. they love the stifling hot, humid summers here and further south. They need this to bloom. So to get one blooming there you'll have to work a little. Maybe indoors with a grow light and a humidity tray of sorts. Or maybe outdoors in the summer only. Just be prepared to bring it inside. I had to dig mine up just before Christmas as we had a cold snap. They say the BOP is tolerant to about freezing but that doesn't mean they like it or will respond well afterward. I bring mine in whenever they say we're going to have a night in the low 40s or less. As far as buying one that will certainly bloom - that's tough. Even w/good stock the conditions have to be right. Here Home Depot sells them w/their blessed 1 year guarantee but I'm sure in zone 5 you'd be hard pressed to find one at H.D Where did you plan to cultivate the BOP, indoors or out?

I have been growing meiwa kumquats from seed. They are consistently attacked by spider mites. I believe that the roots do not change their nutrient formulation to defend itself against pest and this is why they are near impossible to grow from seed. I am curious if you have picture of your tree when it was doing very well. Has it produce fruit yet. Al my kumquat tree have died. They put on a growth spurts of significance harden off loose all the leave and die back to 6 inches and then put on beautiful growth. Harden off then infestation takes of every leaf. This stripping growing process happens 2 time a year and my tree went from 8 inches to 30 inches back to 8 they grow to 30 and die back to 8. Steve

That spiralized form is one of the possible signs of ACP (see the header picture) which is often a precursor of Greening. https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/citrus/asian-citrus-psyllid/ So I would contact your local extension service (it's mandatory in most citrus production states - FL, CA, TX, and many other states with limited citrus have quarantines zones for ACP/Greening.