Plants that are too big for your garden

[Chrisg]

Walking around Kew will Melissa a couple of weekends ago it was amazing how often one of us would say "I have one of those, I didn't know it got that big". It made me think about my planned garden how if I plant the plants I want to in 10 - 20 years time I am literally not going to be able to walk in the garden at all. As an example here is an average size agave ferox


tresco-agave-02

The plant was about 6 feet across and tall. I have 5 of them. In fact most of the agaves I have will get to large proportions, not to mention the opuntias, euphoribas, yuccas, even cycads (although that may take a bit longer :lol: ) Basically if my half my plants actually survive then I am not going to be able to get anywhere near it. :lol:

With me if the plants do settle in it is even going to be difficult to get to them to dig them out :lol: .

So what plants do you have that you can't resist but grow, knowing full well you don't actually have space for it years down the line.

[flounder]

It's not so much the size of plants I need to worry about, it's the fact of shoe horning things in that you know are wrongly sited. Who in their right mind would plant a yucca in a raised bed so it overhangs the blood splattered path to the greenhouse?

[LONGK]

It's not so much the size of plants I need to worry about, it's the fact of shoe horning things in that you know are wrongly sited. Who in their right mind would plant a yucca in a raised bed so it overhangs the blood splattered path to the greenhouse?

Class!!

My biggest weakness is growing tender plants that are too large for the available winter space. My C.ugandense is about to enjoy its last winter under cover as it starting to get a bit too large and straggly.

[tony]

Bamboos ! Pseudosasa Japonica had to go but having escaped into my neighbours ( he insisted he wanted it to stay ) it it about to return back to me. I have a Vivax which is getting too bid and growing into a hedge, love them though!

[PeterS]

LongK - that must be a very fine Clerodendron - I am very envious.

I still have 20 or more young Ravenala grown from seed earlier this year. I recently saw one in the Palm House at Kew, that was well over 30 feet high - so somewhere down the line I could have a problem. :lol:

However Thompson and Morgan believe that there are people out there with large conservatories, as they sell Boabab tree seeds. Their catalogue says "grows to 60 feet - suitable for a conservatory".

[Chrisg]

With some things I guess the idea is you wont live long enough to see it grow that big.

I remember all the threads and pictures of people who had planted Date palms in their gardens right next to the house

Flounder at least ultimately your Yucca will grow up so be less of a pain :?

[Frank]

Tetrapanax x 2, semiarundinaria fastuosa, butia etc etc, the list goes on, you know how big my garden is. The neighbours keep moaning how over grown our garden is compared to their square patch of grass, pretty much sums them up.

I don't necessarily think of my plants as a permanent addition. If they get too big and can be managed fine although I suspect some will simply have to be cut down altogether in the end. But by then I will hopefully have moved on :lol:

[Chrisg]

One of your agaves is going to fill your dry bed Frank :lol: at least your latest group of plants don't get too big although big enough for you green house.

[Frank]

Yes, the montana is starting to put on size rapidly now. The greenhouse is less of an issue as I planted out quite a few Dyckias, agaves etc. this year I no longer enjoy, have plenty spares of or were always intended to go out and have reached a good size now.

If we have a kind winter and some/ all survive this will be my strategy going forward although I suspect most will be annuals :lol: