Schefflera macrophylla planting time is here…
Posted on | May 18, 2010 | 7 Comments
Will Giles struggling with a rather heavy Schefflera macrophylla...
I bought this rather delicious Schefflera last March from Crug Farm in Wales and wrote a blog about it with the following picture. It arrived with three large leaves which have withered away, but as you can see it has gone absolutely ballistic since then. As I wasn’t sure where to plant such a spectacular monster, it was re-potted, fed and watered through last summer and overwintered just frost free in one of my Polly tunnels.
Schefflera macrophylla with chair in March last year...
One year’s growth – marvellous...
I normally plant the purple Abyssinian banana Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii in front of my house, but I have decided that my new Schefflera should take pride of place here instead. So you know a little more about this plant, here is some information from the Crug farm website.
“A spectacular species which we (Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Joneses) discovered in the Fan Xi Pan area of northern Vietnam, where this most architectural of the species can reach 7 metres (23 feet) tall with large paddle-shaped leaflets combining to form one meter wide leaves on slender purple petioles (leaf stem). You may think that would be enough, but on emerging the entire new growth is smothered in a ginger indumentum. Best grown out of strong winds in a warm site. Has taken -11C (12F).” http://mailorder.crug-farm.co.uk/default.aspx
I am rather dubious about its low temperature tolerance after a conversation I had last year with Dan Hinkley from Bainbridge Island, Washington State USA who said that it defoliated at a much higher temperature with him. He said that Schefflera delavayi is much hardier. Luckily I have one of these as well if all goes pear shaped! The position I am planting it in is fairly close to my house facing south, where it rarely drops below -3C (26.5F) so it should be fine.
Another reason for planting this fine specimen in front of the house is that it can be viewed from a balcony on the front of the house giving a fine view of its wonderfully monstrous foliage from above and seeing that it reportedly gets up to 7 metres (23 feet) I will soon be able to see it at eye level in a few years time..
Chris Ridley took photographs of me planting up this beast, so here is a little how-to in pictures…
A three inch layer of well rotted garden compost has been spread all over the ground, then a hole dug slightly larger than the root ball with the base of the hole spiked with a fork to loosen the soil to make it easier for new roots to get down.
Blood fish and bone being added to the base and mixed in with a fork. Some fertiliser is also sprinkled over the surrounding soil that will be mixed in when refilling.
Nearly there...
Carefully remove the pot - luckily it has become well rooted in the last year, perfect for planting. You can tease the roots out a little if you wish, though it is not strictly necessary. Also - watch your back when lifting such a heavy plant...
Making sure the stem is upright, backfill around the root-ball firming the soil in as you go....
Level of the surface of the soil mixing in the compost as you go, leaving a slight depression around the plant ready for watering in...
Job done – now all I have to do is water it regularly throughout its first season to make sure the roots get into the soil and become well established. Now I think it’s time for a cup of tea!
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7 Responses to “Schefflera macrophylla planting time is here…”
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May 18th, 2010 @ 6:08 pm
Dear Brother Will,
Wonderful to see all these amazing photos.
Wonderful.
Love your Sister Coreen
May 20th, 2010 @ 5:51 pm
Hi Will,
How do you produce your blood, fish and bone powder mixture? Can you tell the details please? Your Schefflera is gorgeous.
May 20th, 2010 @ 7:28 pm
Hi Oguz,
I am so used to using blood fish and bone, that I forget that it is not available out side of the UK. It is basically all those ingredients ground up into a dry powder which is used here as an organic slow release fertilizer which can be sprinkled around anything in the garden. I know the blood part is high in nitrogen which is good for growth and the bone part is good for establishing a good root system.
Other than that you will have to Google it to find out more information. All I know is that it works and makes plants grow really well.
I love my Schefflera macrophylla and hopefully with lashings of food and water it will become a monster!
May 27th, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
Hello Will
Wow. Off and away with the monster plants already. Gorgeous photos as usual, love the pictures of uncovering the desert area.
Gill
August 27th, 2010 @ 10:24 am
Dear Gill,
(Hope you don’t mind my informal way of writing to you)I really like your pics and your “paradise” you created in your country. I met the first time S.macrophylla last year in Lucca at Crug Farm place during “Murabilia”. Glad I read they are back again this year becose I’m going to Lucca too.
Best regards from me from Piedmont, Italy
Luca
August 27th, 2010 @ 1:24 pm
Hi Luka, I’m sure you didn’t really mean to call me Gill! Yes, Schefflera macrophylla is a fabulous plant and since those pictures were taken in the spring, it has more than doubled in size – great plant…
August 27th, 2010 @ 3:23 pm
OOOoooppppssss!!!
SORRY for my mistake Will…!! Thanks for your kind reply!