Doesn't have to go in the ground, but needs a pretty big pot. I had one in a 16 inch pot for about 2 years, and it did well.

Hi
Have grown one of these as a semi Bonsai since 1985.
Grow it in compressed sphag in a drip catcher. The leaves are now down to 1 inch with quarter size flowers.lol
I say semi bonsai because i don't follow the rules with it. How big do you want it to get?? gary

If you have room, however, put in the ground and enjoy the butterflies and possibly hummingbirds that will come to it. It is the red one, no? There are pink and white specimins. I prefer the red and so do the butterflies and hummingbirds.

It blooms almost year round here in Central Florida. It is one of my favorites.

okay...I guess then, I have two options. So..question for you, tom...I do have room....but....how 'much' room would I need to allow for it and does it need lots of sun...medium sun......???? You know I'm always wanting those hummingbirds and butterflies! It is the red one....the pot it's in right now is toooo small, for sure. Our backyard (where I'd like to plant it faces East, but there's also a huge oak tree....still lots of open space, too...I'm rambling. how big and what sun? please?

Hi Beth,

I planted my dwarf a few years back and thought it would stay in the 3 foot range. Well, it went to about four foot and I started clipping it back. And its spread is just as wide. I'm not sure how big it would get if left alone. I have it facing west, getting afternoon sun. It requires little water after being established and is an absolute bee magnet.

In hindsight, I would have placed it further from the house and allowed it to grow as high and wide as it wanted.

I just love this plant! You will quickly be digging up volunteers.

Wanda! Nice to hear from you. (sad to report that I lost the little powder puff you gave me, but when I saw this one at Rockledge Gardens, I grabbed the opportunity to replace it!) The 'dwarf' gets a bit bigger than I had thought, then, but I love it...it will probably be well worth the space! Tom hit me where it hurts when he mentioned hummingbirds and butterflies.... anything that will help! Maybe I'll get enough volunteers for a hedge! :)