Just an update on the large-leaved plants I tried this year.
I tried rhubarb and elephant ears (Colocasia) in addition to the castor beans that I always grow. The rhubarb was doing great until we had our upper 90's and it went dormant (or died). I'm hoping dormant.
The elephant ears are way more vigorous than I expected. The tiny 5-for-$5 bulbs I got (between golfball and racquetball sized) eventually produced some HUGE plants. There are at least 2 stalks coming out of each, and each stalk is much larger in diameter than the bulbs. I'm only growing them in pots right now, but will have to put a few in the ground soon I think. The leaves and stalks are much sturdier than I thought they'd be, and the lower leaves stick pretty far out to the side (blocking my walkway).
Interestingly, I have not located any of these plants near bamboo. Next year, now that I know what to expect.
large-leaved bamboo companion plants
Moderator: needmore
- gardenmonkey
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:54 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: Tacoma, Washington
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
I am having really good luck with my japanese aralia. It grows fast and looks really cool.
save the bamboo, eat a panda
- gardenmonkey
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:54 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: Tacoma, Washington
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
A couple other I have tried are big leaf bamboo (indocalamus tessalatus) this one is doing well. I tried cold hearty "basjoo" banana last year and even though I isulated it, it turned into a big pile of rotton mush over the winter. Hostas do great here, I have 12 so far and they get bigger each year.
save the bamboo, eat a panda
-
- Posts: 1873
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:20 am
- Location info: 26
- Location: Kerby, OR
- Contact:
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
Alan,
Where did I get your elephant ear bulbs from?
So far around here they are 7 to 10 each!
Where did I get your elephant ear bulbs from?
So far around here they are 7 to 10 each!
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
I just buy them at Wal-mart or Home Depot or anywhere that they're cheap. You don't need a huge one -- even the smallish ones (racquetball-size or so) produce a BIG plant by the end of the summer if they're treated well.
I'll never have to buy these again though.
I'll never have to buy these again though.
Alan.
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
-
- Posts: 1873
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:20 am
- Location info: 26
- Location: Kerby, OR
- Contact:
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
Hmm...
I will have to check around some more..last year at wallys they were 9 each bulb, they were about tennis ball size
I will have to check around some more..last year at wallys they were 9 each bulb, they were about tennis ball size
-
- Posts: 3088
- Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:15 pm
- Location info: 42
- Location: upstate NY zone 6B
- Contact:
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
I think planting some gunnera manicatas(giant rhubarb) around a huge established bamboo would add an exclamation point, except the grove should be 40+ feet tall to work well since these plants are supposed to get enormous leaves reaching something like 8ft tall and 10ft diameter leaves. They are hardy to zone 7 and prefer boggy conditions, but regular soil works fine.
I've been growing one since summer of 2008 which has up-sized slowly each season, and now has leaves breaking the 2ft mark in diameter, likely to reach close to 3.5ft by fall. It finally flowered this year too
I've been growing one since summer of 2008 which has up-sized slowly each season, and now has leaves breaking the 2ft mark in diameter, likely to reach close to 3.5ft by fall. It finally flowered this year too
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
Steve -- how did you overwinter it?
Alan.
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
-
- Posts: 3088
- Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:15 pm
- Location info: 42
- Location: upstate NY zone 6B
- Contact:
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
In the fall when leaves start to wilt, I just cut off all the leaves and place them upside-down over the corm and then get a partially filled leaf bag and place that over the whole thing which usually provides complete insulation.
I didn't do anything to over it in the winter of 2008/2009, but it still came back about the same size however I protected it this winter and it looks much bigger than ever before.
I didn't do anything to over it in the winter of 2008/2009, but it still came back about the same size however I protected it this winter and it looks much bigger than ever before.
-
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:58 am
Re: large-leaved bamboo companion plants
Here's a couple I didn't see mentioned.
I grew both of them in Michigan for years
they're both pretty good companions.
Crambe cordifolia
macleaya cordata-----this one will run around a little bit
I grew both of them in Michigan for years
they're both pretty good companions.
Crambe cordifolia
macleaya cordata-----this one will run around a little bit