I would like to have a crack at growing a few of these but I am confused as
to their hardiness in the middle of W. Yorkshire. Some say they are tender
2C and others that they will withstand frost -10C.
Does this mean they will be cut down by frosts but re grow the following
season?

"Dave Poole" wrote in message
...
Rupert wrote:

I would like to have a crack at growing a few of these but I am confused
as
to their hardiness in the middle of W. Yorkshire. Some say they are tender
2C and others that they will withstand frost -10C.

Typical of many things horticultural, both statements are more or less
correct. Ultimate hardiness is to around -8 to -10C. although expect
near death at the latter with rather poor re-growth and the need for
an ensuing long warm summer and mild winter. If anything colder than
-7 or 8C is expected, a good thick mulch will help keep the plant
snug. Actually, a good thick mulch will not go amiss in all but the
mildest of climates and help promote strong new growth.

The foliage is usually severely damaged beyond -2C with stem death at
around - 6 to -8C depending upon the length of the freeze. The roots
are rhizomatous and provided they are protected, new shoots appear in
spring, the plant acting as a woody, herbaceous perennial. Tetrapanax
tends to run about rather a lot when established, which means it can
offend tidy-minded folk who need everything to grow within a
millimetre of what is claimed in the label. Most forms can top 4
metres in sheltered spots and are almost as essential as Musa basjoo
in the exotic garden.

For the uninitiated, Tetrapanax papyrifer is the 'rice paper plant' -
a native of China through to Taiwan. A member of the Aralia family
(Araliaceae), it is distantly related to the false castor oil (Fatsia
japonica) and carries huge lobed leaves to 60cms. or more across, with
a pale fawn somewhat wooly indumentum on the leaf undersides. It is
fast - give it a moist, well manured soil in dappled shade and stand
back for it can go from 0 to nearly 3m. in a single season. Very
large panicles of creamy white flowers, held in tight, round clusters
are produced towards the end of the year, but can succumb to hard
frost. Such large foliage requires protection from harsh winds, so no
moorland or cliff-top gardens for this one.

An even more brutish form was made available a few years ago and has
been dubbed 'Rex' ( T. 'Rex' !!!) Its leaves regularly exceed 1m. in
width and the plant is slightly hardier having been collected at a
fairly high elevation.. More recently, Crug introduced a very fine,
equally vigorous version with pronounced red petioles (leaf stalks)
called 'Empress', but so far it is very difficult to acquire. There
is also an exceedingly rare (close to, but not quite in the hen's
teeth category), less hardy, cream variegated form that is less
vigorous. It is totally fabulous when grown well, but to my knowledge
it is not currently present in the UK.


Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November

Thanks for all that excellent info-I will give it a try and blame you if it
doesn't grow like the clappers :-)