Tatrapanas Rex

Does anyone out there grow this ? I have one which has come through two winters and not sure if this more by luck than good judgement.
This year it is pretty spectacular, about 6ft on single but branching stem, and has produced a 'baby' about a foot from original. Was going to cover the youngster with some straw and large bell cloche for the winter. Should I really be protecting the main plant somehow or is it really hardy ?
Would appreciate any advise as I just love this plant and would hate to lose it.
Thanks
Carol

 

Hi Carol.

Tetrapanax paprifer 'Rex' is quite a tough plant with a reasonable level of hardyness for most of the UK. My plant came though the last winter with -8C without any problems.

For cold spells it may be worth popping a bit of fleece round the growing tip (if its still reachable) but dont leave it there all winter.

They will send up lots of suckers in time, which can either be weeded out or removed and potted up. (these often sell on ebay for £20 plus). If the roots are damaged (from weeding or general digging in the area) then they tend to send up more suckers.

These are a fantastic plant and look very tropical. Where did you get yours from? Do you have lots of other tropicals?

 

Hi Gaz,

Nice to meet you and thanks for the advice. Was given the tretrapanax (apologies for the misspelling) by a friend about three years ago. Had no idea at the time how wonderful it was. Dont have a truly tropical garden but in with all else have ...
3 quite large palms
a huge miscanthus which is due to be moved whenever the best time is. now approx 10/11ft high.
ligularia
colocasia
tree fern
large cordyline
25yr old giant of a fatsia
futher various miscanthus
zantydeschia
phormiums and various bamboos
In pots have colocasias which first time Ive grown (bought from Urban Jungle) together with
brugmansias
flowering ginger(if only it would flower!)
agapanthus
white regale lillies (flowering now)
phormiums

and various odd bits and pieces around them all

Love the architectural look of the tropicals. Trying to learn more by experience and lots of questions on a site like this.

We have and original sunken garden built same time as the house (1896) in engineering brick about 3 ft lower than house level with steps on all four sides. 4-5 ft borders around top and 3 ft borders down in the sunken bit. Grass in middle. We have alot of pretty mature trees around us so get a fair bit of shade. Very mixed growing conditions as the sunken bit, or 'the pit' as it is known, can be a real heat trap in summer and a frost poclket in winter. Generally pretty damp and moisture loving plants thrive. Upper level is sandy soil very free draining which gets as much compost as I can produce. All sounds a bit wacky I'm sure but does give me the opportunity to put plants at different levels and in addition to the pots on the rockly road to Dublin, which is and ancient large terrace, Love sticking large pots on the walls of 'the pit' here and there. When I get around to having a go at posting pictures will try and get some on here so you can see what Im trying to explain. I love it although am so impressed by all the pics of peoples gardens on here Im a bit nervous.
Thanks again for the advice and look forward to further chats !
Carol

 

Hi again Gaz,

Forgot to say we have an absolute multitude of ferns in the garden and I just love em !
It is blowing an absolute gale here in the midlands and got back from lunch out with my husband to find huge terracota pot with brugmansia in of about four foot had gone over on the terrace. Plant ok pot not broken but heyho what a battle this year has been. Six weeks or so ago we had a freak hail storm with hail the size of peas if not marbles. I stood with head in hands watching them punch holes in the colocasia leaves and the brugs. You certainly need a sense of humour for this gardening lark.
Carol

 

and of course some bananas. Red Abyssinian - ensete maurelii - first year and doing well
2 musa sikkimensis - again first year - one doing better than the other.
And ...... three sons of 'Wilson' our dearly departed musa basjoo who succumed to the ferocious winter but produced three offspring in his dying moments !

 

Lol @ Gaz the Rex murderer !:D:wink:

Should be fine tbh, I have mine in various locations without protection and they have all been fine.:gnthb: People do post up about the growing tip being lost but it seems they re-sprout from further down without too much drama.

 

lol

I kill plenty of other plants so a few T-rex pups are nothing to worry about :D