The stick came with instructions:

I have not grown Dahlia imperialis before. I assume a cutting like this is the quickest way to a blooming-size plant. I picked up three today (presumably it's quite alive...) at the UC-Berkeley Botanical Garden.

For those unfamiliar with the plant, this is the tree Dahlia which grows to 20 feet (typically 8-12 feet). It's a late Fall/Winter bloomer, so it can be tricky in places that get much frost.

Info on Dahlia imperialis:

http://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/d - g/dahlia_imperials_BTD.htm

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=493

Or I see you can buy a small one for $35 on Ebay...

I am looking for rare and unusual (sub)tropicals, either for inside (probably fairly low light) or outside in a frost-free (but coastal/Bay Area California) spot. I already have access to a lot of people and places with interesting plants, so I'm pretty spoiled as far as my choices go.

I'll post a second cutting on the tropical exchange. I have a third that I will keep and I'll start a post on the tropical section to follow it's progress. I find this an intriguing way to start a new plant fast.

Do you have a 'want' list, to give us an idea of what you're looking for? Or maybe a 'have' list so we can see what kinds of things you like, but already have?

I posted a partial list of things I have on the related tropical exchange post:

I do have other things I can root at this point: Deppea splendens, Agapetes serpens, Fuchsia boliviana Alba, Brugmansia sanguinea (blooming), Rhodochiton atrosanguineum, Dicentra scandens, Chlorophytum amaniense 'Fireflash', Philodendron 'Prince of Orange', Monstera deliciosa albo variegata, Homalocladium platycladum, Petunia exserta (seeds), Abutilon megapotamicum, Darmera peltata, Centaurea gymnocarpa, Isopogon formosus, Correa baeuerlenii, Iris confusa, Roldana (Senecio) petasitis, Correa baeuerlenii, Salvia wagneriana, etc...

I have never made up a list of things I'm looking for. Off the top of my head I've been looking for Stanhopeas (orchids), also Angrecoid orchids that can tolerate my conditions. Another orchid I'm looking for is Coelogyne usitana. Other indoor plants would include Nepenthes, interesting Aroids (but not the big ones, and probably mostly indoor ones), less common Hoyas, etc... Oh, there's a yellow furry Deppea relative that I'd like to get (I forget it's name right now).

Most of the things on your list I have/will have a lot of (i.e. vines) or am not really growing at the moment (Brugmansias). Most of my remaining outdoor space will probably be filled once I get more Passifloras. I'll email you, though.

I think I would ask Mark to ROOT the cutting FOR YOU, then trade.

You raise an important point. Are your cuttings green or the big thick woody things like here? I would assume that these big cuttings need little external moisture to keep them alive. So it should be possible to attempt rooting in a drier environment than for a small cutting. I have not lived in Florida, but I get the impression that rot tends to be a much bigger problem in general than in California.

I'll ask around--I know a few people who grow the plant or work as propagators in the local botanical gardens. My impression always was that this plant is not generally a difficult one around here (which makes the Ebay prices all that more obscene).

If need be I can always Fall back on Annie's little plants (also nearby). I was there last weekend and noticed they were selling little Dahlia imperialis (possibly with minor frost damage?). They may have had more than one variety at their retail store--I don't remember. Their prices are cheaper and their availability greater than online.

I have to say your comment surprises me in light of the fact that the Ebay seller Strange Wonderful Things just sold two unrooted cuttings because they are (supposedly) so easy to root. He says "Cuttings root easily and reliably". He's usually pretty straightforward about these things.

If my intent were to have rooted cuttings immediately of this plant I would go to Annie's and get one for a couple dollars. Plants would have cost close to the same as these cuttings (i.e. not much), and be easier to ship.

If for whatever reason I send someone one of these, it fails, but they really want to grow the plant, then obviously I could buy a rooted plant at Annie's. Or whatever the solution is.

The whole point of this is that it should be fun.

If you have failed with cuttings that are not big woody things like these your experience is certainly worth noting and appreciated, but perhaps not relevant.

I was merely mentioning that this cutting is not as easy as it sounds to root. You are turning this into a negative when it is meant to be a positive. WHY would this information NOT be relevant? Are you telling me you wouldn't want to know if the possibility existed that it could rot instead of root?

Relevance: Trying to root thick woody cuttings should be compared to trying to root thick woody cuttings. It may be in fact impossible with thinner or greener growth for all I know.

I got a different color/form so as to not end up with a whole bunch of identical plants.

The color code of the pink tag from Annie's means that the plant was $5.50. There's a lot of material for cuttings, so I'll be trying a few of those. If I can, I'll divide it up into 2 or more plants.

I'm keeping one stick and will plant it soon. Interestingly, the dormant leaf buds are starting to grow bigger.

A third stick is still available.

Around here they sometimes sell "little dead sticks" at the garden and home shows. Some people call them Plumeria and have great success with them.