Giant Bird of Paradise! Stuck on whether to plant..

6 years ago

Hi Guys --

I initially wanted to plant two Nicolais right next to each other to fill this space. A few people at Home Depot seem to think provided I have a focused drip system, the roots won't be an issue and it won't become a monster if I consistently trim.

Ideally, I just want it growing taller not wider.

Some of the pictures I've googled seems to show this plant just "takes over".

Am I biting off or starting a major problem by planting two of these here?

If its okay to move forward and its manageable, what suggestions do you have?

If its best to avoid, what other tree/shrub alternatives would you plant?

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Comments (4)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
6 years ago
You should plant it far more to the left. They grow fast,and you really don't want that great trio of Howeas to be unable to spread their fronds.

GBOP is a clumper. If you wanted to prune it to a single trunk- it can be done . No harm to the plant. Otherwise ,let to its own it will fill that space. In 5 or 6 years,you can have 10' of trunk on those. Fast.
Dennis
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Stan. Silly question, the 5 gallon GBOP comes with 3 trunks. Are those meant to be planted separately?

Also, when you talk about chopping them down, is it as simply as cutting a new growth at the bottom? If so, wouldn't I be left with a ton of dead/cut offshoots at the bottom with just one or two growing higher? Or, will they stop expanding at the bottom once I've started to cut.
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stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
6 years ago
No,you would usually plant the clump. You COULD divide them like any other clumper out of the pot.. a sharp knife/tree saw. After that? Its hard to get enough roots and the shoots at the same time. I couldn't. Some say yes- easy. But, unless you need dozens of them.. cutting them at the ground works best. Like thinning Banana's or Bamboo.

They NEVER stop trying to be a clump. Its up to the owner to decide if you want an impenetrable 25' GBOP clump ..or a palm like grouping of 3-5 stems and all other shoots cut off at ground level. No dead growth will show.

Some have cut them to a single trunk..not such a good look.
Dennis
Original Author
6 years ago
Great. Well that makes me feel better because the goal is 3-5 stems to have a manageable 6-8 BOP. Thanks again!

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Giant Bird of Paradise! Stuck on whether to plant..

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stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area

Dennis
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Giant Bird of Paradise! Stuck on whether to plant..

Comments (4)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area

DennisOriginal Author

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stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area

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