Tetrapanax -do i need a root barrier

Nickfromthesouth · 25 February

Have had my Tetrapanax papyrifer in a pot for the last year and I want to put it in the ground in my long and thin garden with free draining soil. I understand that they can run,so my question is do i need a root control barrier, or are they easy to control ? Thanks

thevictorian · 25 February

I would say they are easy to control if you give them enough space or don't let them get to big. Often the new plants are formed because the top growth has been cut back by the cold weather, so growing them somewhere sheltered, reduces the amount of pups. They also create pups when you cut through their roots but I don't think they are hard to manage in any way and they aren't a pain like rhus.
We have ours in a very large container and have had it for probably 20 years now and I've only seen one pup ever. I know of one locally that is as high as their house and it has created some pups but they just dig up the ones they don't want and they don't seem to cause a problem at all.

Nickfromthesouth · 25 February

Thanks.that will suffice, and save me buying the root control barrier.

Hostafan1 · 25 February

Given their habit of spreading and suckering. I can't understand why they're so expensive to buy.

greatnorthernexotic · 26 February

I have three planted into my garden, none with a root barrier. They sucker readily but are easy to dig up and pot up. It can be a lucrative little side hustle, selling tetrapanax pups!

Tetrapanax -do i need a root barrier

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