huge leaf beasts?? help

Discussion in 'Outdoor Tropicals' started by parkeey, Apr 13, 2008.

  1. parkeey

    parkeey Active Member

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    Im trying to make an unusual semi/tropic garden with mainly huge leave plants, i have purchased a few,
    1.gunnera
    2.Alocasia Calidora
    3 musa busjoo

    i need a few more monster plants that will make my garden look interesting, pref: hardy ones... and rapid growers... and ideas be appreciated!
     
  2. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    Alocasia odora, Alocaska gageana, and Colocasia esculenta may survive in your climate. The first two are the parent plants of Alocasia Calidora which is a hybrid created by LariAnn Garner who is a contributor to UBC. Colocasia esculenta has many "faces" and several hundred known leaf forms. It is one of the most variable of all aroid species and even changes its own shape and color in a single season.

    This link will tell you more:

    http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Colocasia esculenta large pc.html
     
  3. parkeey

    parkeey Active Member

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    many thanks but anything other than aroids ???
     
  4. photopro

    photopro Well-Known Member

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    Well, you better get rid of the Calidora then. Its an aroid.
     
  5. growest

    growest Active Member 10 Years

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    Mostly borderline hardy, but...

    Canna, fatsia (reliably hardy), magnolia macrophylla (small tree), melianthus, phormium and tetrapanax all come to mind for your theme.
     
  6. parkeey

    parkeey Active Member

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    the tetrapanax looks awesome, might have to get one of those!!! any more plz shout
     
  7. LPN

    LPN Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Don't forget to drop a palm into the mix as well!

    Cheers, LPN.
     
  8. jimhardy

    jimhardy Member

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    I know this is only a year late as far as replies go but maybe for this year,how about Castor bean plants(ricin) they get some nice beafy leaves! You will need to plant the seeds now if you want max size but even started in May they can hit over 8' in height,leaves can be 2'+ across.
     
  9. parkeey

    parkeey Active Member

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    haa thats funny cos ive been doing my research and have ordered 2 different types of caster beans only yesterday! lol brill
     
  10. jimhardy

    jimhardy Member

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    Get the green leaved var,it's leaves can get 2-3' across,the other varieties(being a fellow fan of big leaved plants)are not worth growing,however they do have beautifull colored leaves,just not that big.
     
  11. DGuertin

    DGuertin Active Member 10 Years

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    Add another foliage freak to the mix here... By the way, I actually have two young Magnolia macrophyllum, if you need pictures. I'd also look into Catalpa sp. and Paulownia as options, though I haven't the foggiest if they'll survive your climate.
     
  12. jimhardy

    jimhardy Member

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  13. parkeey

    parkeey Active Member

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    nice, they love sun!
     
  14. jimhardy

    jimhardy Member

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    Yep,although I think east or all day broken sun and some wind protection would yield the biggest leaves but full sun and lots of water never hurts!
     

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