This impressive-looking plant at the Stanley Park rose garden seems like it's about to bloom. Where the stems aren't covered in dense brown fuzz, they're purple. Leaves must be about 60-70cm, simple, palmate, deeply lobed. Plant is about my height.
Hi looks like Tetrapanax papyrifer to me. Source of 'rice paper' and a very attractive plant to give a tropical feel to a garden. tchau Brian
Wendy, there are a couple of those planted next to the Reception Centre here. You can see them from the boardwalk.
Brian and Eric, thanks for the ID. Eric, I know just where you mean. I started wondering last night when I was looking at Schefflera delavayi photos whether this also was in the Araliaceae family (it is), and was that what I was thinking looked familiar. I forgot all about the plant next to the reception centre, which I have tried to photograph but didn't like my photos, so I didn't even rename them. Even sadder is that I have photographed this plant in Florida (photos attached), where I was also very excited about it. So it did look familiar. Or rather, it should have looked familiar, since I've already noticed it twice before. I think I was too focused on the young leaves and stems yesterday.
Since it hasn't been mentioned, a word of warning: the brown fuzz can cause allergic reactions in some / many people. Handle with care, and in particular, avoid breathing in any of the fibre.
Thanks for the warning about the brown fuzz, Michael. I've been all but rolling in it, and I've been telling people that this planting is a textures garden, so I should not be encouraging them to feel this plant.
