Thursday, May 30, 2019

In appreciation: Metapanax delavayi

My Metapanax delavayi takes my breath away, daily. At least these days. The new growth has fully emerged and is holding it's bright green coloring. These new leaves hang above the older, darker leaves. The effect is of billowy clouds of green, and impossible to capture in a photo.

As if that wasn't enough, my little "tough love" sale plant—only $2 and barely a foot tall when I bought it in 2010—has grown up to completely block the view of the neighbor's house and bi-colored garage behind our property. It has become an unintended focal point as you enter the back garden...

After sharing the image below on Instagram, I realized the big leaves/small leaves/big leaves mash-up of texture was all made possible by Cistus Nursery. Shefflera delavayi at the bottom, the Metapanax and then Magnolia macrophylla at the top.

Metapanax delavayi is a surprising unknown shrub for as wonderful and easy care as it is. An evergreen in the Araliaceae family it's hardy in Zones 7-9 and grows to approximately 6-8ft tall and wide.

I have also heard it called "pot-leaf" Aralia, for it's similarity in looks to the marijuana plant.

Even though I purchased my plant in 2010 it bounced around the garden for a few years before finally being planted in this spot in 2013. Click over to the post "Schefflera-land, all planted up…" to see a few photos of how small it was then.

Metapanax delavayi, it's a good one.

Weather Diary, May 29: Hi 77, Low 53/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

21 comments:

  1. I agree this is a really great plant. In fact I liked it so much I got a second. Believe it or not I have the same three plants in close proximity just like you. Looks great Laurie.

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  2. Wow! So big! I planted two little ones in two separate spots, not together, last year in my shady back garden. I guess (I hope) in another 9 years it will be this size. I hope I gave them enough room.

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    1. Nah it should only take 6 or 7. My poor plant's growth was stunted because I moved it around those first 3 years.

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  3. OK, I've added it to The List. Thank you Loree, and Cistus too.

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  4. That juxtaposition of leaves is stunning.

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    1. Almost like I planned it! (which I didn't)

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  5. When I see yours I always wonder where I would plant it. Maybe a stock tank in the shade in front of the cypresses...off to check Cistus availability. And to think it makes it through a semi-snowy winter too. Amazing it's not more well known.

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  6. Oh, what a difference 6 years make! Love this bed, a lot. I wish Rogersia retained the bronze color throughout the season. Are all the 2013 plants still together?

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    1. I removed the big blah hostas and replaced them with nicer ones, and sadly the Schefflera taiwaniana died last summer. The Fatsia polycarpa ‘Needhams’s Lace was successfully moved, because it became way to large for that spot, and the Ligularia 'Osiris Cafe Noir' never returned after its first winter.

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  7. It's a beauty and does have a cannabis look to it. Hopefully, it doesn't smell as bad. ;)

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  8. I can understand why you love it so, Loree. I'll let Denise experiment with growing it before I consider trying it in my climate. Of course, Denise has succeeded with Tetrapanax (and many other plants) that have failed miserably in my garden so her experience doesn't necessarily signify my chance of success.

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    1. Ah but see maybe if you go first you'll have success that then she'll try to emulate?

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  9. Oh, that's nice. The second photo down really shows the foliage sizes and textures--great combination! Sounds like a very wise and inexpensive investment.

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    1. Does this very wise and inexpensive investment counter other unwise and expensive investments? Cause there have been a few of those...

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  10. That's a lot of growth! The big little big pattern of foliage is fabulous!

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  11. That's a beautiful plant, the texture & color difference in old/new foliage reminds me of Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress,' only tree sized! I'll definitely have to add the metapanax delavayi to my plant list!

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