I purchased the Empress tree last year. It came looking a little scraggly, but I put it into the ground anyway. it looked like it was not going to do anything and for a few months I thought it was dead...but I noticed a small green growing from the ground (not the actually planted tree--just from it's root). This thing started growing and growing. Within the next couple of months, the tree was getting about 8 feet tall. Now the new year brought me those lovely flowers, the giant (easy to clean up) leaves, and even more height--it is still growing taller and wider -- I've even trimmed some of the lower branchs off to allow for some grown space. These things REALLYGROW!! Be sure you put it in someplace where it will have enough room to grow up as well as out and not damage other things. I love my Empress tree -- my husband is getting a bit concerned that it will get too big for our yard though!!! Too bad,honey...MY TREE STAYS!!