I tried 2 years ago to start cuttings I took from south new jersey- they all died so I gave up thinking they just won't grow here in NE PA. this summer I noticed there was a huge one growing behind our church! WOOHOO!!!! So how do I take from that big one and try to grow here? Do I take cuttings or does it send out little "suckers" that I can pull from the ground? Should I start in pots or can I stick right in the ground? And I'm assuming early spring would be best so it has all of summer to grow and establish itself right? Any help would be great!

cool- thanks for the link- it was very informative!

Are you sure it died? they don't even leaf out til very late!...sometimes they seem dead and they aren't. Don't bloom til mid-late summer..this is in California

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The cat's asleep, I whisper "kitten", until he stirs a little and begins to purr.

yea- it was dead. i waited and waited and i tried bending the twigs to see if it was still alive- they were dead. it snapped and there wasn't even any green inside. but not to worry- i'm trying again this year and i have directions instead of just trying to wing it! so hopefully i'll succeed!