I've done a fair amount of research on ramps but haven't tried growing them yet. The most knowledgable source I encountered was a man named Glen Facemire in Richwood, WV who runs http://www.rampfarm.com . This is likely the only commercial ramp farm in the world. He sells fresh ramps, starts, and seed for anybody interested. Also, from an above post, you can trust that the ramps shipped fresh from him and his wife arrive in good condition for about $10 a pound which includes shipping. They really need to be prepared soon though but an iced cooler works for a few days (3-4 max). His theory is that seed is the best way to plant ramps.They don't spread by the roots but only by the seed fruit. The ramps must have a good winter freeze but seed still takes a couple years to germinate... it's a very hard seed. He says most people who get a bundle of unwashed ramps and transplant are really just getting baby seed sprouts tangled up in the dirt and roots that often makes people believe the transplant was a success. He does have ramp bulb sets in season (March through April)./ We visited his "farm" which is situated ideally on a steep northern facing hillside. It isn't really a "farm" in any sense... he just scatters collected seed just into the leaf duff and waits 7 years before harvest until after they flower and make hearty seed to replenish the patch. They're really a treat.. but not for everybody! There is also a PBS documentary on ramp festivals called "King of Stink" that is pretty funny and his ramp farm is one of the features in it. Here is a link that might be useful: Ramp Farm & Supply Source

The poles aren't as strong as you might think (native cane). The plants are very sensitive to the occasional droughts. I had a good stand behind my back yard in a forest and during the drought they died off . Later I found it growing in a low spot that normally floods. Ground water is going to be the key issue and rain runoff ditches are probably the best site for establishing a stand. Still, they spread underground and re-establish where there is adequate and continuous moisture so I have no idea how you would contain them. I don't find them attractive at all. A summertime short visual barrier if there's enough moisture but the rest of the year and in dry periods they do look ratty and the dead,dying leaves do persist. Are you trying to hide a view? As I mentioned, they aren't a permanent barrier. In the riverine (drainage/creek overflow) forest they would pop up in a different location every few years.

Traditionally, on the Lake Ponchartrain Northshore (before nature-hating types who should have stayed in New Orleans started ruining the place), the ditches were planted in Canna Lilies (there are native/wild cultivars)and Elephant Ears (again, I think there were native types). Louisiana Iris, I've seen a lot around Ponchatoula. The common yellow variety seems to grow like Topsy in ditches. And there are native bulbs, like Swamp Hymenocallis, which thrive in boggy conditions. You do realize that some Bamboo is non-invasive, right? It's grouped as 'clumping Bamboo'. Rosa Palustris (swamp rose) tolerates wet feet, and is a real beauty (native to your area, too). There's an 'Invasive Exotic' I've noticed in South Louisiana ditches (which adds much beauty to the landscape, with its Vermillion blossoms). Can't remember the name, and my browser is so 'improved', now, it's jumping around too much, and won't take me where I want to go (used to be easy to look it up). Anyway, it's in the Locust family, and is a small tree with fern-like leaves.

If you look back up the page, at the post made by "gldno1". She/He provided a link for Giant Green Thuja. I just went to Joplin last Friday and purchased some from the same place. They were actually larger than the website shows. I bought about 30 of them. The quart size pots were $6 each, and the plants average 30" high. I would go soon if I were you, as these plants are larger than advertised and the nursery will probably start repotting them into the gallon size pots soon. Also, I had done ALOT of research on these plants and this is the best deal out there. I emailed all of the other suppliers I could find and requested prices and plant sizes, etc. Many of the mail order plants offered at about $9.00 each were only 6" - 15" in height. I also found the employees at the Botany shop to be very helpful. If you do go, I'd call first and verify the current pricing. Mel