Hello Gill, I'm so glad you are not in a flooded area. We are O.K. too. If we were flooded they would be dead down in the village from drowning. I'm so sad for the people in Gloucester and Tewksbury. My plumerias are thriving ( I'll try a picture soon) I managed with husbands help ( and grumbles) to get my Celadine outside but with the wind and rain it fell over and broke a piece off. I will let it dry out and try to root it.Yeahhh! I still only have one little protea and I think the others seem to be rotting. I agree we must get things into perspective what's a plant compared to losing your belongings in a flooded home. I can't think how the people must be feeling. I hope your Celadine wakes up soon for you. I must say I have some rooted named cuttings which I would have thought were certainly old enough (I've had them at least two years)to flower but as yet only leaves. What a disappointment! Maybe we're feeling a bit gloomy.Hope your accident is all mended now I thought of you as my sister is back in hospital after another fall but an x-ray doesn't show another break but with her Parkinsons she is not well at all. Take care. Hazel

This is one at my niece's house nearby. It's a venerable old thing, maybe 25' across. And is almost always in bloom at Christmas. It has been in bloom for at least 6 weeks and is just now starting to go over. When first opened, the blooms are very red but fade to that more orange tone as they age. The plant was already well established when my niece bought the place so no idea what the cultivar is. It is not Diane, as I have grown that one myself and it doesn't get nearly as large. And this is much redder than Diane when first in bloom and with no retained dead foliage. If I had to guess, I'd say 'Feuerzauber'.

I agree that the native versus nonnative species discussion cannot just be black and white. And a major part of the discussion is just what constitutes a native plant. Here in North America with its vast array of geography and climate types, you cannot necessarily assume that a plant that is native to one area/region will automatically be suitable and equally as attractive when used as a native species outside of its common range. There is a huge difference in hardiness and overall suitability between say a New England native, a Texas native, a midwest plains native or a PNW native. As well as the types of wildlife or other fauna they might attract. I can only speak from my PNW viewpoint but there are a limited number of local native plants that are well suited to a cultivated garden or landscape. Few are very garden worthy in that they have rampant or unruly growth habits, grow excessively large for many situations, prefer forested or heavily shaded, moist environments or just react negatively to a cultivated setting. And native plants from other parts of NA are often not very happy in the peculiarities of the PNW climate and growing conditions. I would never consider this to be an either/or situation. Native plants DO provided garden benefit as they are typically well suited to the local climate and growing conditions. But when used outside of their natural range, they may lose those benefits. As well as not servicing the different wildlife present as they would within their range. But non-native exotics can also attract pollinators, support all manner of insect life, both good and bad, and therefore the birds that feed off of them. Some sort of blended balance between the two is what we should strive for.

but if it rings your bell.. dont let my opinion bother you ...to be changed every few years ... when you could do some root pruning ... i had a WH once ... when i moved i potted 1625 plants to take with me .... but i left the witch hazel because it was one of the least inspiring plants i had for the 5o weeks a year it wasnt blooming ... and who in the heck wanted to walk out in a MI winter .. to look at the minimalist flower show ... lol ... but if it rings yoru bell.. dont let my opinion bother you ... now.. all that said ... you might be better off buying a smaller plant ... perhaps mail order ... and growing it on to size.. rather than buying a bigger potbound plant.. that might not be ready to stay in that pot forever ... you dont mention how big the ones you are seeing are ... were they field grown and dug and potted ... etc ... there might be ... and there usually are.. many problems with large trees or shrubs in pot ... that are usually fixed when planted in other earth ... winding circling roots the usual suspect ... but again... if its your dream plant... go for it.. life too short ... ken