No rust so far. The biggest problem I have with my 3 pudica are brittle branches that often snap off in a big wind and lo legginess. But they root easily, the pink not as easy as the White Wedding Bouquet. The pink was grafted, and not a very pretty graft, though it adds character to it. I plan to trim all the pudica this spring, Adler your instructions, of course, to make it bushier.