5 years. For a "Nikko Blue" Hydrangea. Every single year it would get zapped by our frequently brown winters and cold spells.

Last fall I followed Hayseedman's winter protection guidelines on the Hydrangea forum. And this year it flowered! It has been in flower for nearly a month and has provided seamless bloom after the Tokyo Delights peaked. It is gorgeous and I'm so glad I invested some time "winterizing" the Hydrangeas.

I waited 3 for flowers on the Climbing Hydrangea (I think there were about 2) and it was shortly thereafter that the entire vine "took off". And 2 for Cimicifuga ramosa "Atropurpurea", and Baptisia australis. Definitely "worth it".

hhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
so that means my Nikko Blue might still bloom? I think it's been 3 or 4 years since I planted it.
Guess I'll be visiting the Hydrangea Forum to find some new tricks....

Wow, 14 years is a long time! She must have forgotten it was even there.

Same as Chelone, except it was 4 years for my Nikko Blue. The only thing I did different that year was mulch it really high up. That added protection was all mine needed. And to think I almost moved it thinking it wasn't getting enough sun! It's my favorite plant/shrub now. Here it is with it's late summer/fall colors:

Oh, I'm really sorry to hear this about Lycoris squamigera, because I planted a dozen or so last year. The idea of them blooming after the foliage died away was too much to resist, but I didn't realize it would be ... 17 years after the foliage died. I was thinking in terms of months.

I've been waiting for about 10 years for a mockorange to bloom, but this doesn't really count because, in fact, I've given up on it and just have been too lazy to dig it up. Maybe it will surprise me one of these years and actually produce a flower... probably not.

It's something very strange about L.squamigera not blooming for so many years. Yes, they don't particularly fond about being moved and may skip a year or two, but 17 years...
Tina brought a banch of them to last year spring swap and some people reported blooms in the same year's fall.
Mine skipped the last year, but finally just finished blooming.
There are basicly three reasons for them to become a non-blooming plant:
a) overcrowding (which is definitely not the case with the fresh planted bulbs),
b) too good soil + too much water, though neither one of those conditions singularly could prevent them from blooming,
c) leaves had been discarded consistently for several years before they ripen off or planted in a very shady location.

For me the longest non-blooming plant WAS a lilac.
After 4 years it was given to a friend and I'm hoping that his grandkids will see it blooming.

To clarify, my friend's bulb sent up leaves every year but no flowers til this year. I don't know what growing conditions she supplied.

Hmmmm. My bloomed at three years in my old garden. Think the success was fertilizing in fall when I put other bulbs in. They are worth the wait. Did not bring them with me as they HATE to be moved. Good mine from Wayside Gardens if that helps.

Martie