Still looking!

How hardy is this plant? Can it be killed off with herbicide - which herbicide is recommended and when should it be applied? Please be aware this may look interesting but it is a horrible species and takes over wetland areas. It grows very tall and spreads to fill the area where it is planted - dense tall grass. I have 8 acres of wetlands registered as conservation lands - they are in the headwaters of one of the major rivers here in Southern Ontario. This grass is taking over from the Bull Rushes and many local plant species and simply out-competes them - result is a mono-culture of this species. It is invassive and has spread 2 km from someones garden in local village. It is now about 100 yards from my property - filling all ditches and wetland areas. Consider it to be an INVASSIVE and NON-NATIVE species. It will destroy all local habitat for native butterflies, insects, birds etc. which are currently thriving here. I suggest that it is best to find a local species of plant for whatever your needs. I've also spent 5-6 years fighting Garlic Mustard - another invassive species that was taking over in 23 acres of my adjacent woodlands - this also becomes a monoculture and starves out all other plants. I have extensive Trillium flowering in the spring along with many other local species of native flowers and young tree seedlings under the mature Canopy of hardwoods. Apparently the leaves of this invasive species also kills off other plants. Last year Ifinally got on top of Mustard weed - but what ana effort! I do not look forward to battling this grass. - Seeds spread by wind, shoes, local deer, and other animals. This grass will get to my wetlands and although I hate using herbicide, i have little choice!

maui, it looks like grass to me, but its only the first year, maybe as it matures it will form the stalks. i grow several different colocasia, alocasia, and zanthosoma; musa basjoo, blood bananas, eucalyptus. i dig them every fall and start them in the greehouse in march, put them back in the ground in may. i know brian, and been to his place. he does have a huge collection ~~ an 80 ft greenhouse of his own for aroids, then his dad has other tropicals ~~palms, yuccas, agaves, etc., in another greenhouse. then they have the regular nursery, with normal plants for the locals. its quite the place !! i'd love to have all that he has. he is even got some of his own hybrids selling this year at a couple of the national nurseries. i'll take a couple of pictures tomorrow, i can never get them posted here, but i have an online album and you will get an email from shutterfly with the link. susgarden

donn - I live on the family farm, five acres on my side of the road, probably three directly across the road, lots of room and things to hide with the grass. Plus, I love ornamental grass so can you really have too much :-) I have gotten divisions from my family before (which is where I stole the seed heads from) but they really don't like to reduce the size of their clumps too often. My dad has like a couple hundred foot long row of it and it looks awesome.