I've seen clumps of it blooming along the bluff in Magnolia but not for a while now :-) I tried it 3 years in a row and even got the things to overwinter a couple of times before a late spring frost cut them back.

Based on my limited but futile attempts, I'd say unless you have a large greenhouse, chances are not good for success. It takes two seasons before it blooms and really would like as close to a frost-free winter as possible, so overwintering them in a protected location is pretty necessary. Or at least it has been for the past few winters :-) And even grown in a container (as mine were), this rapidly becomes a BIG plant, so a large protected space - like a greenhouse - is best.

Yes: it grows until it gets too cold. There may be multiple winters warm enough for it in a row, so as long as that happens you can grow it.

The milder the neighborhood, the longer it will last.

The first place that comes to my mind is a corner lot down near the Lake Union end of Stone Way, east of Stone, up on top - as of a few years ago there were several spikes, old (leftover from previous years) and new (in bloom) when I went by there at the right time of year.

I grew one nearly 2' across on Camano Island before it collapsed in a hard frost, without blooming.

West of Stone.

This site still needs an Edit feature.

Had it right the first time: east of Stone.

See: really need an Edit feature, some of us are too scatter-brained to get by without one.

Thanks for the info :-) It sounds like it might be worth a shot in my south facing side yard. Even if it dies out it would be worth it for a chance at those amazing flower spikes. Sunset.com says it's easy to propagate from seed, too!