Anyone grow Rice paper plant?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:47 pm

Has anyone grown rice paper plant? Sounds like it might have a good chance here with some good multching....

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:23 pm

Haven't heard of it...got a pic?

Gosh, you're growing everything except wallpaper

Barb

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:25 pm

Been hardy for me,without any mulching,it spreads fast by underground runners,had go to flower only once in 4 yrs,only to have the first freeze do it under before it had a chance to even open,wish I could find a root of the larger variety.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:26 pm

Tetrapananx papylifera Ill post a link, has lots of synonyms. ITs what the chinese used to make their scrolls. HUGE 2 foot leaves..... Hardy to zone 7-10, some say 6...... can apparently grow into zone 5 with a good deal of multch.....

http://www.killerplants.com/media/image ... 4_full.jpg

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:49 pm

Wall paper???
Give me the genus and I'll give it a go!!LOL

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:49 pm

So that's what it was!

I was in HD today, always tootle through the plant section

to see if anything's new.
Huge leaves on some new plants in the corner.
Reminded me of Fatsia, but on steroids.
Typical stooooopid label said "tropical foliage" (really, Kermit?)

A couple of these in a greenhouse and you don't need shade cloth

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:56 pm

Jesse,
thanks for the suggestion. It wouldn't like my winds, but neither do most of my other plants. --Erik

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:56 pm

I was looking up some information on it, and i got a link to another forum, ill find it, basicly it was a discussion as to the differences between , Tetrapananx ( regular), "Rex" and "steroidial giant" and a few others. The 2 types have deeper lobed leaves and are said to be more cold hardy, while the regular type has smaller leaves, and isnt as hardy. Ill really try to take a look for it again....

I Think i heard barbs car door slam and peel out of the driveway, headed back to HD LOL. i got the seeds from seedrack, same place you got your seeds assorted seeds

I have some seeds im going to start, see how well that goes. The rice paper plant has been in "aralia" ( currently), and" fastia", so you arent to far off... They apperantly need shade from the hottest sun during the day, and grow in shade. So eric if you have a protected shady wall, i bet you could make due, Just be careful, they can send suckers 20 feet away, and make huge thickets if left unchecked. BUt it is easy to pick up the suckers, and restrict its growth.

Mind you this is jsut from research. If you have some houseplant books, its usualy in there.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:03 pm

found the link]

http://growingontheedge.net/viewtopic.p ... &hilit=rex

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:11 pm

Thanks for the link!
Now I just need to find a vendor....
--Erik

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:12 pm

They apperantly can grow fast from seed. Im about to find out, im planting them tomorrow...

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:22 am

Jesse- Any chance of getting seeds from 'Steroidal giant'? That is one I'd like to try... I did not realize that this species was effective as a die-back perennial.
Apparently Dr. john in Washington grows this:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 32643.html

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:21 am

I know paul!. Most people think of it as jsut a tropical plant, or houseplant, but research has proven other wise.

AFter reading that thread i posted, it seems that the regular RPP, isnt as hardy above ground but I havnt found info at all as to its hardiness below ground. There were pics I seen of steroidial giant, that apperantly took -13C, and was still standing to some degree. There was also talk about how this one guys RPP every year no matter how warm or cold it is, defoliates, while the others he has, were still green well into first frost.Tetrapan

I havnt found anyone that sells the steroidial giant seeds. I know PDN (practicaly usless for us up here) carries them, as well as the variegated form. I also didnt see any tetrapanax in Hortico....... I hope Jim sees this, I think he has a steroidial giant..

Something else ive read about it is `` if it survives its first year, its there forever". It seems to be a good contender to try and make it hardy ( like that dude with the aloe vera), it reproduces suckers like no tomorrow, and if what that aloe guy says is true, then each set of suckers should be hardier then the actual parent plant. This might explain why that one fellows initial plant dies back, but all the other ones dont ( he had 2 species and concidering this thing suckers 20 feet away, its easy to miss a sucker from that one plant and distinguish what came from what). This also explains why a plant grown in say, monacco, will not likley survive Iowa, inless it can sucker. They seem to vary greatly depending on growing conditions ( im guessing after the first winter), that single plants hardiness is set.

There was also talk of how the larger leaved versions, dont do as well in high sun and heat, due to massive moisture loss. This would explain why there more hardy, becasue thery were from higher up oni the mountains, which means cooler temps ( this is a guess)

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:25 am

Long story short.... Sexy plant.....

And im not sure where to get the steroidial giant seeds, or "rex" is apperantly its UK name. All the large leaved, deep lobed versions are concidered the same plant generaly ( from what ive read).

Im hoping to get some good variation out of the seedlings. Paul, even if it isnt the steroidial giant, i wont need 10 seedlings ( i got 10 seeds). If i get a decent number id gladly send you some in may when it warms up, it would look baddass naturilized in the woodlot

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:51 am

Ya, I think I will give it a go. If it underperforms it will either be dead (my guess) or I can rip it out!

I've ordered seeds too, so we can swap if one or the other gets no germination.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:16 am

Jesse

Mine came back from the roots this past growing season,I did not mulch
it....but there is some mulch on the ground in that area you can see
it in the following picture just to the left of the Thai giant Colocasia.

I will post some pics of last years(2 years ago actually) and some more of this past summer later-

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:54 am

Paul - awsome! What kind of seeds did you manage to find?? If its a different kind then mine ill be up to swap, whether i get some or not..... Im going to be planting the seeds today ( I have 2 aerogardens on 16 hour timers so it should trick them into thinkin its spring and or summer), and its a fairly warm corner as well... Ill keep you all posted..

Up to 3 months to germinate ( apperantly a high germination %), but can sprout in 2 weeks in ideal conditions ( 70-80%, high humidity and indirect light ( spring or summer sun)

Jim - I Thought you had one. Do you remember if its the steroidial giant? Have you seen any pups pop up yet?? The one in that pic ( thatsx actualy the picture i was thinkingof when I was trying to remembr if you had one), Looks quite healthy. Thats about 2 feet tall?? Not bad for root regrowth! Im thinking of protecting parts fo the stem ( if all goes to plan) like most people protect basjoo, to get some trunk hight for the following year..

If im not mistakin.... thats the "shady spot" you planted a few basjoos youve mentioned correct?? Im just trying to figure out a spot for them. Seeing as I get the general same strength sunlight, and relitivly same summer temps, I should have to plant it in similar conditions here.

Some places its known to grow (off the top pf my head):
Iowa ( thats you jim

), cincinati and clevlend ohio, zone 5 utah ( apperantly unprotected), arlington texas, north carolina and michigan.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:22 pm

Here's a hardy plant with some ornamental appeal!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:20 pm

is that "big boy" hosta?? Thats huge..... You usualy dont think of bigass plant when you think of hosta

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:01 pm

Jesse

I get a kick out of you and Erik saying that your climate is like mine-
is that what your saying

I think my climate is as different from yours as Erik's is from mine

as I write this,Erik is approx 15(F) warmer than me and mine approx 15(F)
warmer than you,Eriks the big winner as he is way over freezing,anyway,
not that important

I have several different types of Bananas(including Basjoo) in varying degrees of sunlight-
my Tetrapanex (Steroidal giant)put out about 50 babies this past growing season
even though the mama was dug up and brought inside.

I think if you want some size out of this plant you need to grow it in a very large pot
the first season,bring it inside and plant out in the ground the second year.
I can't see them getting bigger than 3-4' here,I was thinking of protecting mine
but after seeing 50 pups decided not too!

Here are some pics -

After 25F

Here's a different one on the west side of the Bananas

When I first bought it

Same plant later that year(2009)in Sept

The same plant,overwintered and planted last spring...it didn't do to much,
one of the pups that sprung up basically caught it,to much root disturbance to
try and overwinter after digging up.

Mid June,the overwintered one is back further,you can kind of make out it's trunk.

Mid August-notice the overwintered one in back hasn't done much!

Oh well ,that's probably enough pictures!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:44 pm

SO they do grow fairly quick. Thats good to know. They send up suckers when you disterb the main root system. Hence why you had sucker fest when you dug it up.

As for potting it up for the first year, thats exactly what the sowing instructions said. Im going to try both. Why not??

You get some good size out of the leaves and it looks really nice as a lower growing plant as well.

Paul - sry i forgot, I got mine from seedrack....

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:28 pm

I hijacked the thread! Barb- That is Hosta 'Empress Wu'. Grows to 4 feet high with 2' leaves. Hosta, like Rhododendron, when bred for certain traits, has a major role to play in an exotic garden. There are others that I will be trying, including Jurassic Park
T-Rex

Jim- Good info. I will plant any Tetrapanax seedlings that I get outdoors and hope for the best!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:12 pm

No problem Paul. Not my thread.

Sheesh, that's not just a big plant, that's one honking big picture...
You had me wondering for a moment what we were going to be looking at

That hosta is breath-taking.
I can only imagine what one root/tuber costs

Impossible for me anyway...wherever we have a bit of shade, that's where the drying winds rip through.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:31 pm

Jim,
thanks for all the extra info. Yes, one to add for 2011!
I like Hosta but have had trouble keeping them alive through my summer heat.
I guess this gets to Jim's climate point....
--Erik

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:32 am

These grow in tennesee Eric, thats somewhat similar to you, and nothern texas ( closer to you even), so Im sure you wont have any problems. Like you said, try to keep them out of the sun ( even up here theyre conciderd partial shade plants) and especialy your winds. Then again, your supposed to keep musa away from winds too, and yours looked good..

they had a few types on PDN website, variegated, and steroidial giant last time i was there...

Thanks again jim.....

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:44 am

Forgot to mention that esp in a climate like Eric's an east exposure would be best.

If you have an area with dabbled shade all day that would also be primo!

Jesse

Good plan to try it both ways-

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 8:21 am

Paul those hosta are crazy. I think they only reason I stay away from them, is because they are more then overused here. Then again, i havnt seen anyone here with the big varieties. Lots of people plant them in a spouthern exposure here. Sure they grow a bit bigger and faster, but the growth looks stretched, and is no where near as lush as they are even in jsut a bit of shade

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:24 am

"Overused" is definitely an understatement here too. I don't know if anything else even comes close (trailing Arbutus?)...

However, as I said before, this hobby is about the thrill of growing what can't (or shouldn't). Great, none of us can grow Washingtonia unprotected... We still need those backbone plants to frame everything. Why not use a reliably hardy common (yet, with these giants out of place) plants if they are effective?

I removed the photo above. I had no idea that I had 'borrowed' such a large photo.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:46 am

Well, i can say when i started this summer 09, i only wanted greenery, tropical esque plants. i have daylilies, weigelia, some iris... so things change when you get going, and i can assure you it will again ( even with my "dislike" of flowers, im adding more and more every year). I knwo tons of people with hosta, so i may steal some it i get the chance.

Since were on the topic of reliably hardy plants or shrubs ( say zone 4 - 6) what would you suggest? I know theres tons of rhodos that are hardy here, wegelia, roses, dogwood, service berry.....

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:39 am

Hardy AND tropical fakers... Hmmm. Too many to list.

I'll start a new thread on the topic with some of my faves. I'm sure it's been done before, but who cares?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:32 am

cant wait to see it

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