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Tapioca Tree (Manihot)

19 years ago

I got one of these from someone at the spring MTPS. Sorry, I can't recall who it was. It is doing GREAT and I'm very appreciative. Its growth this summer has been awesome but now I'm worried about it being hardy enough to stand a Nashville winter. I heard that they die back to the ground and may not come back. Advice anyone?????

Comments (8)

  • 19 years ago

    Jeff from what I found on Google, you need to build a heated room for it this winter, or you could move your lot to Florida (Southern Florida). Another thing you could do is dig it up and put in my green house. I drove through Nashville about two weeks ago, if I had of known, I could have stopped and dug it up for you.
    Norm

  • 19 years ago

    Jeff, that would be me :). I remember handing it to you and telling you that you needed it, LOL! The one you have is a seedling from our tree. I grew ours from seed about 4 years ago and it is about 10 ft right now. Yes, it does come back every year in the ground. It completely dies back to the ground and Doug will cut the dead back to a stump. In the spring, it will start to sprout again and by the end of the season, it will be right back up to around 10 ft. Oh, and it will become multi trunked too. Great little specimen tree! I'll try and get a pic later today and post it for you.

    Rebecca

  • 19 years ago

    I have a similar success story with this plant. At best we are only a couple of degress warmer than you guys. I've seen manihot rated 7b by plant delights and I really think that it could probably go a little lower depending on the amount of mulch you were willing to give it. Oh, if you give it a lot of fert it will really kick it into high gear once it heats up.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks guys! Shoot me some pics Bec!!!

    Norm you were up here and didn't call or come by? BIG mistake. Just wait till I tell Lavonne; she'll have your scalp for that! I'd hate to be you.

  • 19 years ago

    Jeff, here is a pic of it last year with Captain Intimidator as reference. Doug is 6'1". This year, it is much fuller, and about the same height.

  • 16 years ago

    Sure glad to read the Tapioca comes back after a cold winter (even further north than here). Zone 9b had a record cold winter and my Tapioca looks dead, branches are dry wood, and no sign of buds yet. Everything else from the 125 survivors of the 140 plants I have planted in the past 3 years are budding. But my Tapioca has ALWAYS been very brittle, branches snap easily. Anyone know - does that indicate a mineral or other deficiency ? ? ?

  • 15 years ago

    hey there i am looking for some seed for these trees. can anyone help me out?

  • 15 years ago

    That's a beautiful screen for summertime yards.

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