Tetrapanax in Houston? or the humid SE USA

[Chester B]

I know many gardeners on the West Coast and the UK like to grow the large forms of Tetrapanax papyrifera (Steroidal Giant, Rex), but has anyone grown it in a climate like Houston??  The form I grow known as Steroidal Giant, came from Japan to Hawaii, then on to California and into Oregon.  Once in Oregon it was then made available to the public by Cistus Nursery.  From all the comments I get from people it appears to be quite hard to find outside the PNW and even hard to find in Portland where it was first made available.  I brought three pups with me from my mature plants and they are happily growing on in pots with the warm weather here in Houston.  In this climate I expect them to be evergreen and should be able to flower and set seed.   We used to get the start of flowers in Oregon, but winter would finish them off around Christmas time.  My plan is to try and find a spot that gets some reprieve from the afternoon sun and continue to keep one in a pot as a backup.  Because they survive the heat in California, I hope that they can make it here.  Anyone here with experience growing them in the humid south?

Edited February 18, 2024 by Chester B

[Swolte]

Despite having tried them several times, I have not been very successful. Then again, I have a very hands-off approach... it just doesn't fit with my garden philosophy.

Having said that, a friend of mine, who does irrigate, has had them for years in a shady, fertile spot. I noticed he has a lot of leaf drop too from oaks/maples which helps insulate the spot during the winter. You should be fine if you're willing and able to provide them with water once a while. 

Cheers,

~ S

[metalfan]

I grow them in Florida in a climate that is a little warmer actually than Houston. They are invasive. They are ONLY evergreen if the temps do not go to the low 20's, which we have had in the past but not for several winters now, but I know Houston has had. They will grow back, often re-sprouting from the old woody stem, but never from the top so you have to prune off and dead stem. They are INVASIVE here. I suspect they would be invasive in Houston as well. One plant can be 100 plants in only a few years. They spread by underground stolons like Clerodendrums. If you turn this loose in our yard, you may regret it

[Merlyn]

@metalfan I hadn't heard of this one, so I read Plant Delights' desciption.  They say, "Rice paper plant will spread underground in good soils, so don't plant it near small defenseless plants."    On reviewer said they spent the entire summer yanking out rhizomes, and it grew to a 10 foot diameter footprint in a year.  Yikes!  Sounds like a good potted plant, but don't let it loose!

[Matthew92]

I'm trying one here. I had it sitting in a large pot while I was trying to find a place to plant it. It is so vigorous that after a year of that pot sitting there, I found a new plant of it growing a couple feet away as the roots had already gone through the pot into the soil that far!!

[metalfan]

7 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@metalfan I hadn't heard of this one, so I read Plant Delights' desciption.  They say, "Rice paper plant will spread underground in good soils, so don't plant it near small defenseless plants."    On reviewer said they spent the entire summer yanking out rhizomes, and it grew to a 10 foot diameter footprint in a year.  Yikes!  Sounds like a good potted plant, but don't let it loose!

Tis is 100% true. We pull out trashcans full every year and STILL they spread. I started with a single small plant. Since then, I have had literally hundreds, if not thousands. They do have that kinda 'tropical' look, and I suppose I thought they would be a substitute for Gunnera, which I would desperately LIKE to grow but cannot here in the heat. They might not be so awful in cooler climates, but in Florida, even the northern tundra, they are bad news

[Paradise Found]

I had the same experience here in pnw to invasive. 
I had one of the early ones when they were available 2gallon. The first two years it was fantastic the third year it was 12’ tall But it started coming up 10’-12’ away by the end of summer I took it all out.  And not good to breathe the fuzzy stuff on the trunk.

But the leaves were huge in part shade.  

Edited February 20, 2024 by Paradise Found

[Chester B]

I do have experience with this plant. 8 years to be exact and these are pups from some of my big plants. Did they spread? Yes up to 16 foot away but easily plucked out and given to others as there always had been a big demand for this plant, It’s a pretty common sight in PNW and UK gardens and in those climates never a problem. Really the only problem is that they do not produce enough pups!  It’s a real money making plant to help offset garden costs.  $20-$25 for every pup and the demand always outstrips the supply. .
Never cold enough to kill a stem and the same will be the case in Houston. 
So you all have answered my question.  Yes they can take the heat and humidity.  Probably best out of afternoon sun. The invasiveness is something I’ve considered in a warmer climate.

I’m not sure if you saw my description but this is not the standard rice paper plant it is like a tree form. They grow 15’ high with leaves 4’ wide so they are impressive to see.  Definitely quite different than gunnera. I’ve grown Gunnera and unless you have a pond to grow them they can’t handle the summers in Oregon. I dug mine up and tossed it after 3 years. 
 

Thanks for all your advice. .

Edited February 20, 2024 by Chester B

[Keys6505]

I moved here (HOU) from NJ 4 years ago and always had them up there in 7a.  Never had any issues, they got massive every year.  I've tried them here 3 times now and they sputtered out every time.  Not sure why.

[Chester B]

On 2/23/2024 at 9:33 PM, Keys6505 said:

I moved here (HOU) from NJ 4 years ago and always had them up there in 7a.  Never had any issues, they got massive every year.  I've tried them here 3 times now and they sputtered out every time.  Not sure why.

When I don't see a certain plant in another area that is well within the plants growing zone, I always think there is a reason for that.  Its easy to get plants shipped these days.  I wouldn't be surprised if its the heat/humidity combo and hot nights is the issue.  But I'm going to try with one in an easily contained area.  So far in the pots they are growing fine, but it hasn't been much over 80 yet.

Edited February 25, 2024 by Chester B

[Keys6505]

7 hours ago, Chester B said:

When I don't see a certain plant in another area that is well within the plants growing zone, I always think there is a reason for that.  Its easy to get plants shipped these days.  I wouldn't be surprised if its the heat/humidity combo and hot nights is the issue.  But I'm going to try with one in an easily contained area.  So far in the pots they are growing fine, but it hasn't been much over 80 yet.

Well good luck.  If you figure it out please post it because these were probably my favorite plants when I lived in Jersey.  I also wasn't really concerned with any invasiveness here.  All of my neighbors just have fence to fence grass, so if anything slipped under the fence their lawn guys would mow it right away.  Like you mentioned the runners were easy to pluck or just cut off with a well placed shovel hit.

[Austinpalm]

I tried Tetrapanax in Austin a couple of times and it always fizzled out.  I agree with Keys6505 that our long summers with warm nights may not be to their liking.  Also think that our generally alkaline soil does them no favors either.  A plant with a similar look that does well (too well) is castor bean.  Some get a very nice purple when in full sun and can be very eye catching.  But boy will they spread and take over if you do not watch it.

[Chester B]

11 hours ago, Austinpalm said:

I tried Tetrapanax in Austin a couple of times and it always fizzled out.  I agree with Keys6505 that our long summers with warm nights may not be to their liking.  Also think that our generally alkaline soil does them no favors either.  A plant with a similar look that does well (too well) is castor bean.  Some get a very nice purple when in full sun and can be very eye catching.  But boy will they spread and take over if you do not watch it.

My soil is more neutral and clay based.  I found that they don't love clay and prefer it to be amended for drainage.  I'm thinking part sun with protection from the afternoon sun will be preferred.  I'll let you all know how I make out.  My issue is finding a spot with some shade, I have no trees and my backyard has a southern exposure.  I think I'm in for a challenge this summer with no real established gardens.