A return to the topic, as I am now ready to plant a signficant amt of vetiver on steep slopes in tropical Bali--2 seasons a year, wet and humid, dry and less humid...the questions are:
1. anyone with experience interplanting decorative/blooming plants with vetiver? We are talking slope here so some views are from top down and other bottom up, some eye level, but more of the former perspectives. I had some good responses on this previously, recommendations, but wondering if anyone has actually done this in situ.
2. for shadier spots, Arachis pintoi, the peanut, has been recommended. I have seen the photos of the yellow flowers but never the actual plant...does it bloom for long and the blossoms, are they pleasant, negligible, overwhelming? Trying to get an idea of what it would look like when established.
3. I had recommended to me interplanting the peanut with Rhapis palm, for erosion/stabilization in shady areas. anyone with experience, and/or alternatives for interplantings?
4. For palms amongst the vetiver, for full sun location--I know diddly squat about the root systems of palms, but they would seem to maintain the amt of sunlight coming down to the grass and not threaten the growth of the grass. Anyone with words about the value (or not) of palms as stabilizers (I know there are a huge number of varieties, these would have to be tropic appropriate), and any suggestions regarding which might look best, i.e., visual affect, planted among the grass and growing above it. I'm thinking plumeria too as I love the lowers but I know they have negligible root systems.....
any other thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, esp. based on your own experience, welcomed.....
Soil/Slope Stabilizers
Grazio,
I happen to love using tall grass in the landscape (not that I have many opportunities to do so), although I have not used Vetiveria (not available in my country). I'd use the Vetiveria by itself in long rows or islands, since slope stabilization seems to be a major concern for you. You can plant Rhapis excelsa at the top of the slope as a screen as well, alternating it with Vetiveria rows for variety. As for Arachis pintoi, it looks really good on long traffic islands and short slopes, but I think it will not do as well as Vetiveria in terms of erosion control on a long slope. Arachis grows best under full sunlight, but becomes leggy in shaded areas. When planted under full sunlight and given enough water, Arachis forms a thick mat; once established, it can be mowed right over it and it will spring back in a week. The yellow flowers are ever-present; sparrows love to pick the thin stems for water during summer. As for palms, yes, you can interplant them with Vetiveria...they will not significantly reduce the sunlight which is so critical for the grass. Palms trees may not do much against erosion, but they will thrive on a slope, and make your landscape that much more beautiful. For ground cover in shaded areas, try Spanish Shawl (Heterocentron elegans), which forms a low, dense mat of tiny glossy green leaves and produces delicate pink blooms all year round.
tx much, all v. interesting. I'll look up the spanish shawl, hopefully it is available here. The man selling the vetiver was v. clear on the need for min. 4 - 5 hrs sun a day and recommended the a. pintoi for the shady spots, which you counter indicate. I'm thinking of plunking some plumeria in at the bottom of the entire steep slope as I think they would also allow enough light in but the flowering tops would be visible when looking down the slope...your suggestions are much appreciated, thanks for taking the time to answer. And if anything else occurs to you, don't hesitate to post!