>My Manfreda virginica is going to bloom for the first time ever. The >stalk keeps getting taller each day. It recently surpassed my own >height, and I'm over 6ft tall! Dear Dennis and all; Our Manfreda is at it's last few blooms. We have three stalks, the tallest just over 6 ft. They hold up to our weather, but now as the large seed pods weigh the stems they are beginning to lean. I recall some mention of whether they are evergreen or deciduous last winter. Ours are well protected (ha) by dense "wildflowers' around the base so they barely show any loss of foliage in winter. In spring we remove the basal protection (i.e. weed) and they pop back into to healthy growth very fast. So far no pups yet. Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +