Re: Organic-Manic
Toni in Seattle wrote:
>OK - now you'll know just how untravelled I am -
>what kind(s) of grass grows in the Medit-area ?
>And is it as large a consumer of water and
>fertilizer as the U.S. types ?
Well there's the magnificent, variegated form of the Giant Reed -
Arundo donax for starters. Its a native of brackish and fresh water
marshes in southern Europe. In its normal guise, it is a tall, almost
sugar cane like, somewhat invasive, but readily controlled plant with
wrist-thick 'canes' bearing lush, broad, glaucous leaves. In its
variegated form the reed is transcended into a magnificent, lofty and
stately perennial with 3 foot long, nearly 3" wide leaves of pale,
grey green heavily striped with creamy white. Given masses of water
in a pool-side location as well as plenty of summer heat it can grow
more than 12 feet high in a single season and is nothing short of
stunning. In cooler areas it becomes progressively shorter but no
less attractive.
It remains evergreen in mild winter/no frost localities and the canes
remain persistent, becoming woody after several seasons. In the
second and subsequent years, masses of side shoots appear from each
leaf node is bamboo-like fashion and these can be detached to form new
plants. The biggest specimen I ever saw of this grew in a
conservatory at Birmingham UK. There, is was over 18 feet tall. My
own plant under glass grew to 15 feet in two years, but I've never
managed to get it past 8 feet out of doors here in the UK.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/gardenviews.html
