Bill I would it depend on where you live as far as blooming for you is concerned. The only time I see a cold group for sale is Michael G. from BGI in the classifieds there. If you buy from him you know you're getting exactly what you purchase. I think he grows quite a few cold group plants. I'd give anything to get them to grow in my Virginia heat :(

Edna

I've tried sanguinea, vulcanicola and arborea. The only one that blooms for me is the arborea. It's a shame because I absolutely love vulcanicolas. I even cooled my greenhouse a bit but the vulc is so darn heat sensitive. Arborea is the most heat tolerant of the group. Mine is doing quite well and is in bud again. You are in a cooler zone then me and might be able to get them to bloom. You can sometimes find them for sale at Strybing Arboretum and they aren't expensive there. Do you have any friends in the SF Bay area that would go to one of the sales and pick one up for you?

Thanks Edna. I'll bet that I could get blossoms here in Michigan. I use my little greenhouse to try and get a little headstart in the spring. I'll keep checking BGI classifieds.
Bill

Bill, I have Sanguinea, Vulsa (Strybing vulcanicola)and Inca Princess. Sanguinea I bought it about 2 y ago and never bloomed. It did not y yet. Vulsa and Inca princess I got almost a year ago. Vulsa bloomed last year but not this year. Inca Princess did not bloomed yet. Our temp this summer were mild, around mid 70ies. The year is not over yet so I am still hopeful. I also heard that they are very hard to root. When I cut any of these I'll let you know.

Pat

Thanks a lot Pat. I would like to give them a try. "Nothing ventured nothing gained"
Bill

Pat I think the Inca Princess is easier to propagate from cuttings then the Vulsa. Randy had good results with small tip cuttings. I had decent results air layering the vulcanicola. I never tried propagating the sangs but will have to cut back my arborea and might try rooting some of the cuttings.

Bill if you can keep them below 85 during the day and in the 60's at night they should do well for you. Short of installing an AC in the greenhouse it's been impossible for me to keep my GH cool enough, even with the fans and mister going. I've lost several tasconias as well due to the heat.

Edna isn't Michael's garden fabulous! He's in such a perfect climate.

Karyn, last year I trimmed the tree I got from Randy and I manage to root vulcanicola cuttings. I have 5 of them now. They are like 2-3 ft tall. I did not trimmed Inca Princess because the brunch I wanted to cut had a Y and I hoped will flower. It did not. Maybe this year I'll try to root it. Sanguinea I tryed to root with no success.
I know Randy had success with small tip cuttings but is not my case. Actually all the cuttings I was successful in rooting were middle cuttings. The tip ones did not root.
pat

That's great about the vulsa. I had no luck with regular cuttings and only got roots when I layered it which is too much of a PITA as far as I'm concerned. lol