This is the mother of my rice paper plants. Got her a few years ago. She is now a towering monster. Somewhat invasive, this plant looks like it comes from the prehistoric days. While this plant does put out babies all over the yard, they are easy to pull up or mow over, so I dont mind. Also makes for good trade material.
is this Tetrapanax papyrifera? are the babies from seed or rhizome?
I was trained in Baton Rouge, where this plant is reliable in summer, dying with the freezes. But I've never seen it in peninsular Florida south of Gainesville!
hmmm…note to self…wonder if I could grow it here in Naples?
–michael
Yep, that is what it is. Mommy sends out an underground sucker. Want to try one? If so, I can dig up a few (they dont like to be dug up and sometimes die), put them in pots, wait to see which one survives and then send you one.
Hi Rylaff! Nice Tetrapanax!
Glad you posted this cause I was just looking at one of these to purchase.
Please tell us what you do to take care of it. It lookes very healthy.
I am a little concerned about the invasiveness, read that they can sucker up to 15-20 feet away.
I don't want to give my neighbor any problems, although he wouldn't care..... I am still considering its location carefully.
Can't quite tell from the pic you have.......what light conditions is yours growing in?
Mine get afternoon shade, although I have some suckers that are away from the house that are in full sun. However, they dont seem to grow as fast as these up against the house. Yes, sometimes suckers show up 15 feet away from the house, but they are easy to pull up. I dont have a huge amount of suckers show up. Right now there are probably 10. Shella, I would be happy to send you a pup if it survives the dig up.
One of my gardening friend locally was generous to share some small plant that she has overwinter - just in case it doesn't survive our frosts. She warned me however of its invasiveness nature. I'm glad that these grow well in our zone as well.
Rylaff that would be great! Lets try it!
I was going to get one off E-Bay, I think the guy pulls up and saves the pups and then sells them. So there must be a way to dig them up so they survive.
I have several new leaf sculptures I have just finished.... I can trade you one if you would like something like that in return. Just D-Mail me and I will take pics for you to choose from if you want.
I wanted to plant the rice paper tree on the East side of my house up near the house where I have EE's too.
And yes when it's big enough I will use a leaf from it now and then for leaf sculptures and a leaf fountains.
There is another plant called Fatsia that is very similar, leaves are slightly different. Have you ever had one?
I prefer the Tetrapanax for the leaf shape for my purposes and I just think they are a really cool plant.
My neighbor is a really nice guy who has some nice plants, but is not a fanatic about his yard at all. In the back he has several invasive types...that I find in my yard occasionally..... I don't complain, just dig them up , so I don't think he will care about any suckers that show up in his side yard especially if I catch them early and get rid of them for him.
Just let me know if one survives the dig up......he he he ....that would be great!
Their are two forms one is a giant that Tony at plant delights introduced. I am growing both and the leaves are very different on each plant. Very interesting to see them side by side. I will try to get a photo of them. My regular form gets about 5 to 7 feet tall the other form can tower at 10 feet or more.
Shella, I typically dig up the pups each year and offer them up. Some do not survive not matter how careful I am. But there is plenty, so I know I will get a few.
Brian, I would be interested in seeing them side by side.
Thanx so much Rylaff, I understand what you meant now by some of them don't survive. Some plants just do not like to be moved no matter what! Let me know if you want to trade for leaf sculpture for your garden or have me send postage. Again I welcome the oportunity to get one of these for my garden.
Brian, definately a good look at those two side by side and their leaf differences would be cool to see.
thats wonderful plant.. leafs are really fantastic..
rylaff I really like that plant.....when you get new baby I sure would like a start of it to add to my jungle..I haven't taken the time to do a trade list but I have a few different things for trade..
Peggy
I will dig up the extras and see how they do.
I'd be interested in trying some of this if u can put me on your list.
You bet.
rylaff
i think you was the one that sent me mine and now i have babies every where and youre right they dont like to be transplanted,but it seems if you dig them up when they are small they do better because you can get more dirt with them and they think they havent been transplanted mine are big(seedlings) i have been pulling them up and throwing them away, i didnt get to dig them up this year when they where small because of my mom so next year i hope i will get to.thxs for sharing your pretty plants with me
You are welcome. And I think you are right. There is a time period somewhere between when they first come up as suckers and when they start to get bigger that seems to be the right time.
I could trade you bird of paradise if you are interested?
Let me see what survives the dig up.
I have one of her babies and the 4 grandkids. This is the third summer for it. I have it in one of those 20 gal. blue tubs you get from Wal Mart. I have to put it in the GH in the winter, it bloomed for the first time last Nov. and made a terrible mess in the GH. I think this year if it starts to bloom I will cut it off. Here is a picture of it taken this year, there was to much sun that day so the picture isn't very good.
This may sound silly, but how does a bloom make a terrible mess?
Joyce
It not a flower it is will it is really hard to explain.
Dos anyone know of an online vendor for this plant?
i have them coming up every where but not sure that it would be a good idea to get them they dont like to be transplanted very well but in spring when they are small i could get you one
Ok thanks. I will make myself a note.
marieortiz check this out, I think it is what you are looking for.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tetrapanax-looks-similar-to-gunnera-and-Colocasia_W0QQitemZ250150746322QQihZ015QQcategoryZ25463QQcmdZViewItem
Brian is a member here at Daves.
Thanks, he sent me a d-mail but I could not get his link to work.
I have gotten so much from him off EBay and have always been very satisfied with my purchase.
That is a great plant! I'd love to have a baby rice paper plant if you have enough to spare!
rylaff, Could you please post a photo of one of the suckers up close, I have one and would like to ID it. I didn't realize that there are two different ones circulating! Thanks so much, Joelle
Sure thing. Will take a pic this morninhg.
Super!
Sorry to be so slow and late with this. I am not yet sure what all the differences are in these two forms. One grows to 6 to 7 feet while the Giant from can get to 12 or 15 feet tall. The leaves are aparently different maybe just different strains of the same plant? Not sure if they are condsidered different species. I will have to see if the flowers look different. Most likely just differet forms from what I can tell. Maybe a tetraploid or biploid though the leaves don't seem to feel different.
This seem to be the more common form and does not get as tall.
Now here is a pic of the giant form. The leaves are different I am not sure how large the leaves will get on this form.
bwilliams
i love them both not sure which one i have though thxs for sharing
Thank you, will go inspect my leaves
If anyone gets seed off any or all of these I would sure be interested in a trade.
Peggy
i will have(maybe) seedlings in the spring that is if we get any rain,
I had one of the giant ones in San Diego many moons ago and have always remembered it fondly. It was huge and impressive, especially with a little loving care instead of just letting it grow in the native soil with no attention (which is the way it was when I moved there). Since they are runners then they could probably be controlled if grown in a very large container right? I'd like to try one here in Cambria. Need the height in the yard and trees take so darn long. I have many different things to trade. If you get some babies that transplanted ok let me know and we'll work out a trade?
moretz that would be awesome...
Peggy
