Tetrapanax Papyrifer

Tetrapanax Papyrifer 'Rex' aka. 'T-Rex'

2011

I got some root cuttings from a kind man on the Hardy Tropicals UK forum. They are quite easy to grow from root cuttings, there is a step by step guide Here

By March I had a few small plants

I planted one in the garden, but due to fears about its invasiveness I put in a large sunken pot (A recycling bin) This stage is not pictured

By July the potted ones were putting on some good growth

But the planted one was romping away, here it is in August

I left it unprotected for the winter (I have never protected this plant)

2012

Growth started in February. You can see the recycling bin it was planted in here

July and it is romping away again

2013

I decided to remove it from the sunken pot so it could grow bigger.
Growth started later this year, in April. Here it is pictured in May

By the end of June its starting to become a monster

October and it has dominated the border

2014

March

August

Followed by flowers

2015

The plant was leaning too far forward reaching for light so I pulled up the main stem to make way for a bench and to let another stem nearer the house take over. the result is that in 2015 it has not got back to the size it was in 2014

Shown here in September, the bench isn't useable at the moment due to the leaves in your face, next year it should clear head height making the bench useable

2016

April 19th. Growth started a month or so ago, here it is about to erupt (excuse the mess). Notice the bent fork, from digging up a Musa Basjoo. I have since bought a trench spade which worked a lot better

You may not have spotted a small forest of pups near the base...

I will probably cull most of these

22nd June

Getting Big leaves now