I have always (well, for 15 years) wanted one of these. It's not going to happen in Central Texas, though. It's too hot here. At least I can find them in the Plant Files when I need a "fix!" Beautiful photo, Betja.

Well, I suspect our climate is probably pretty similar to yours, believe it or not. I grow all my Japanese maples, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, etc., in the shade with some filtered sunlight, and we have very hot, dry summers here. it's usually around 100-110 here most of the summer, and we get around 5"-6" of rainfall annually. A local nursery had these one winter about five years ago, and my sister and I each got one. I had mine in too much sunlight for the first year and it really struggled and burned, so a year later I moved it to its present spot, tucked under the tree limbs. My sis already had hers in a semi-shady spot, and hers has grown really large. They seem to only get 4' tall, at least so far, but hers is at least 6' long along her fence. And since I have very silty soil that doesn't hold water very long, mine has stayed pretty much the same for the last three years or so, which I like. And it's a very happy camper now. So I'm thinking you could probably grow one just fine, so long as you babied it a bit for the first couple of years and gave it lots of summer shade.

Okay, so in addition to growing cool unusual plants, you're an enabler! I'll look for one and try it. I have tried Japanese maples and they've lived no more than two years at most. I think our alkaline soil is their possible killer. Thanks for the good information. I have a favorite nursery that could probably order a Walking Stick for me.

And maybe they could help with telling you how to amend your alkaline soil in the area around where you will plant it so it will survive. I guess that's what I would do. And you're right -- I'm a terrible enabler!