I spotted this leaf from the front porch and knew right away what it was, a
Tetrapanax papyrifer sprout. This has been a banner year for them. I've pulled and tossed, and pulled and potted, several.
Last week longtime blog reader Chavli spotted a tetrapanax volunteer coming up in the middle of a verbascum, in a photo from
my Bloomday post.
My neighbors to the north have been extremely good sports about the many tetrapanax babies that have came up in their yard—which is an amazing feat since the plants have to work their way under a driveway first.
There are currently at least three plants, one adjacent to their front lawn, and two in their hellstrip.
As for the one coming up in a crack in our sidewalk, no. As much fun as I might have with the idea of people having to walk around a large leaf plant in the middle of the sidewalk on the way to our front door, I also don't want to have to pay to have a new sidewalk poured when the crack gets even bigger than it already is. Bye-bye baby!
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Always amazing where and how far plants can locate themselves.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is.
DeleteAs gardens mature, one really has to keep a watchful eye out for those overly enthusiastic plants! I'm still finding Albizia julibrissin seedings and that tree's been gone for years now.
ReplyDeleteMy Grevillea rivularis came out two years ago and a fresh crop of seedlings is showing themselves this year. So interesting.
DeleteMy knowledge of Tetrapanax can be summed up with info I read on your blog. I read of the annual, nail biting race to see if you get a bloom, or if Winter gets it first, but I had no idea it has the prepotency to run! Holy Cow!
ReplyDeleteChavli
Oh yes, Dan Hinkley scared me with tales of running tetrapanax years ago when I was a beginning gardener here. I was so concerned I grew my first one in a stock tank so it couldn't escape.
DeleteDetermined little fellows. We have a similar problem with poplar and plums. Always trying to expand their range.
ReplyDeleteI guess we can't blame them can we? We're doing the same.
DeleteWhat gets me about seeds is, as much as I try to provide ideal conditions for them, they often do not sprout. But, out on the tiny crack in the pavement, bingo, there they are in all their glory! LOL!
ReplyDeleteAnd you've just described why crevice gardens can be so successful!
DeleteDeep breath… I bought a variegated Japanese Knotweed yesterday. Fallopia japonica, I think. Apparently the straight species can come up through asphalt, and through your HOUSE FOUNDATION. Variegated is supposed to be less aggressive, but can revert. It will stay in a pot.
ReplyDeleteYikes! Playing with fire...
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteEveryone has such different concepts of risk. I’ve finally planted my Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fen’s Ruby’ in the ground. Some gardeners say it is too assertive, some say it’s easy to rip out. I’m about to find out for myself. My one regret was a Silene that has reseeded prolifically.
ReplyDelete