I finally have been able to get a few of these growing decently, just passing along some observations for anyone else trying these.
No water at all when dormant, when in leaf, wait until the leaves flag before watering.
A well draining mix.... I'm using 80% Perlite with a bark based mix.
I had to top mine at about a 3' height, otherwise I had a 6' stick with 4 leaves at the top
afterwards these have branched out nicely and the cuttings will also root. ( wait until the hottest days of summer to do this)