Colocasia Mammoth - Spot the difference 1 year on

[Dave Brown]

You are probably sick to death of my Colocasia Mammoth in the shady North Border, but here are 2 pictures taken exactly 1 year apart. What is the main difference

17th July 2008

17th July 2009

Well did you spot the difference Not much in it really The main difference you cannot see..... in the pic top pic the C. Mammoth had been planted out for 2 weeks after being overwintered in the covered bit. In the bottom pic the C.Mammoth has grown back from being left out unprotected, in the coldest winter for 20 years, and is near as dm it, at the same stage of growth. Not all Colocasia are viable to come back and grow to a reasonable size, but this one is. In the end none of the C Mammoth I left out died, they have all come back, and the big one in the warmer back garden is bigger than this one

[Nigel Fear]

Dave, did the winter's frost encroach on that part of your garden?
Looks great by the way, I.m not sick of hearing about succesful experiments on tropical plants.

[bobbyd44]

still need some of these damm wilkos for not stocking this year!!
they look great dave come back so well after this winter help so close to the house i bet!!

[Dave Brown]

Nigel, The temp 5 feet above that Collie went down to -5.7C and the wall is north facing with no sun, and full exposure to the NE gales we had with snow. The border does catch the rising sun from mid April to end of August. Those in the back garden were more exposed to frost, but were more sheltered from the NE gales.

Here is the larger C Mammoth in the back garden. This is shaded by other plants but the garden is a degree or 2 warmer than the front.

Here is the awaking rhizome on 30th April.

and here today, 10 weeks later

[marie06]

Has anyone else planted out a colocasia and let it overwinter outside? I've had one in a pot for the last 3 years which over winters in the greenhouse. Always thought these were too tender to survive. But I have noticed on a few members garden photos that they have them planted in the ground. I took it that they must lift them in winter.

[DiCasS]

[/quote]

What is the main difference

The main difference is the second picture has a lovely variagated plant next to it. What is it, it looks lovely.

Di

[Dave Brown]

What is the main difference

The main difference is the second picture has a lovely variagated plant next to it. What is it, it looks lovely.

Di

Ah, that is Canna Stuttgart, from Amulree visit this year thought I would give it a try there as only gets early morning, and late evening summer sun.

[DiCasS]

Thanks for that Dave. It looks to like it in that spot, but beware, we are in for a scorching August apparently, and am sure it will thank you for a spray of SF30.

Di

[Dave Brown]

Thanks for that Dave. It looks to like it in that spot, but beware, we are in for a scorching August apparently, and am sure it will thank you for a spray of SF30.

Di

It is already scorched with sun up to 9am, so looks like a total shade site next year.

[DiCasS]

What a bloomin shame Dave, it looked pristine in the photo as well.

Di