Eric - wait until they leaf out and feel 'hard' to the squeeze. Roughly speaking, I'd say about 12 weeks after the shoots came up. If you were in a warmer zone it would be better to wait longer but I prefer to dig these a bit earlier so that I can still see some new rhizome/root development in the containers or the transplant spot, before winter comes. If you can wait a bit, you should, and also dig them on an overcast day ideally after a rain.

Did your poor splintered Gigantea do anything?

Good info Brad. I was planning to wait until they leafed out if I didn't hear anything to the contrary. One is branching now and the other one is still elongating.

The gigantea sent up one 2' shoot a few of weeks ago that is just now starting to leaf out. Two more shoots came up a couple of weeks ago and they appear to be about the same size ~2' expected. And last week a fourth shoot appeared but this one seems a little smaller than the rest.

The bissetii has recently sent up a few new shoots. A couple of them should reach the 4-5 foot range. Vigorous, just like its reputation. Thanks for the healthy plants. Eric

I dug up some whip shoots last fall that I did not think would survive outside over the winter and potted them up with a section of rhizome attached. They all survived and most thrived. I am finding them new homes now with my friends. This was Ph. rubromarginata.