I have Hidecote last a long time, more than five years. Grosso has not been as long lived for me. I have had HIdecote in clay loam and silty loam. We have had some temps of minus thirty in that time. So that isn't the only factor. Last winter is was very cold in a lot of places, and very cold for a long time. This is hard on a lot of plants. We also had three feet of snow from storm Atlas that kind of finished some things off. My bluebeard died, and I think it was just because it hadn't gotten ready for winter yet when the snow and cold came. I have also some kind of lavender that a friend gave me from having them reseed in her garden that does fine as well. Some of those have light blue flowers and some are dark blue. Who knows what they are. I cut mine back when growth starts in spring, back to live buds. Depending on the winter we have, most of the lavender dies back and is gray. I just leave it all winter to spruce up in spring. I don't know if yours is a goner acorn. But it seems kind of late for it to not show growth. Are early tulips in your area done? They are done here and the lavender is growing. Check the base of your plant carefully before you give up on it.

If the cuttings have new growth, roots are certain to have formed. You can test one cutting by gently trying to pull it out of the soil - if there are roots, there will be some resistance. Don't pull it right out - to do so would be to damage the roots. You can try transplanting some of the cuttings now, as long as you can keep them warm. As you do it, try not to disturb the neighbouring cuttings which haven't yet shown signs of striking. Don't just yank the cuttings out - use a small fork or spade, and lift them out from underneath, bringing with it as much of the soil as will adhere to the roots. Those baby roots are very tender and can easily get damaged. When transplanting, make sure you bury the rootball no deeper than they were originally.

Would you let us know how cutting it that far back works next year? Everything I keep reading says that after about four years, the dead looking inside middle of the plants just gets wider and higher, so either buy new ones or propagate what you have. (I just cut off some branches, and their flowers, remove the bottom leaves, dip them in rooting hormone, poke a hole into soiless mix or starter mix in little pots, and then drop the cuttings into the holes, patting down the soil around it, before watering. Did 5 cuttings and two have taken, but, through a series of events, I put the other 3 containers in a place I don't see easily to remember to water them.) I'm a container gardener, so only have two bushes in one container. I'd love to know if your method works, since mine are 4-5 years old now, and the middle of them is pretty much barron looking.

yes, This is a plant that I have had in a pot for several years. I think this is the first time it was going to bloom. The leaves are just what I think you guys are calling "claws". They haven't opened yet. Here is another picture. As far as I known the root structure was intact. I wasn't there when my husband planted it, but as you can see from the second picture, the other ones he planted are doing fine. here is picture of the planter with 6 plants, 3 Singapore Whites, One Playful (I think) and not sure the other name, white with yellow inside This is I think "Playful" in the same planter (It was the first to bloom, and its blossoms are all spent now) And finally, one of the Singapore whites from the same planter: I guess, it can't hurt to cut off the inflo, then maybe the claws will open up, give it some time in the sun before winter comes!