I grew it in zone 5, Ohio, for quite a few years. There are a few things you need to understand about it in order to grow it successfully in the north. First, the 90-120 days is very misleading. It takes that long, in tropical weather, to grow it from stem or rhizome cuttings. Where it's grown commercially, harvest is usually 12-15 months after planting the cuttings. Next, it likes alkaline soil. Lime is a fundamental amendment for growing cane. It also is a real fertilizer hog. It needs lots of good manure or compost throughout it's life. If you mulch heavily, the rhizome will probably survive you winter, and continue to produce for a few years. Finally, put it at the back of the border, because if it gets all the water and ferts it needs, it's a really tall plant.

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

I see a few near the coast on google. I was told they were planted large fronting a nice and big Hotel. They have the "coconut juuuuust making it look" like what you see in the California desert. Interesting that those Coconuts had tall Howea palms next to them. But,yes,I would trade for the Brisbane climate. Ironic that here in the bay area we also have a city named Brisbane. Its a very cool ,mild climate..not Brisbane like in summer!

I doubt it why don't you give them a ring Lucy. I know they would not be that price now, we used to buy large round bales for $20 last year, this year they were $35 each we drive down south to Woongoolba with our trailer and can just fit one in it, this guy will deliver, earlier this year eight of the rounds bales was the least and he charged $50 delivery to where I live north of Beenleigh and I know he charged $100 delivery for a friend of mine over in Bellbowrie he bought 16 large round bales. We reckon there would be 15-20 small bales in a big round bale. Those small bales are small and not compacted like the ones Bunnings sell, and nothing is cheap for the garden these days If you want their number let me know.. Cheers Mary-Anne