Manihot esculenta 'Variegata'

[Barb Matthews]

Does anyone have a source for Varigated Tapioca? I would love to find some liners but have had no luck finding them.

[Donna Taggart]

did you ever find some? I want them too. I THINK plant liners out of florida might carry them

[Barb Matthews]

No I haven't.  Still would love to grow them. 
 
Donna Taggart said:

did you ever find some? I want them too. I THINK plant liners out of florida might carry them

[Billy Welter]

One of my Florida Suppliers could get finished product for me up in Chicago but I have not seen plugs or liners available. Prefinished may be the best way to go as they like it warm and may not grow well in the cold winters of the midwest, unless you have the luxury of keeping your greenhouse real warm this time of the year! If I remember right, which is sometimes debateable, I think they don't want it any cooler than 55 or so at night.

Good luck!  

[Eric Rohloff]

Try this

http://www.fngla.org/search/searching/

I did and found this

http://www.fngla.org/search/searching/view_listings.asp?id=13889&am...

Here's another.

https://www.heavenly-products.com/cart/manihot-esculenta-variegata-...

[terry]

I think the best way to handle this plant is to get a few finished plants and then grow them out in the ground over the summer and then in the fall take cuttings. I have been working with this plant for a few years and have built up a small stock. Finally figured out that when rooting them, they like it on the dry side. Treat them like you are rooting a plumeria. They are really susceptible to spider mites, so you have to watch them. They are a really neat plant in the landscape. They need full sun. 

[Erik Friedli]

I had a beautiful one in my yard.  Hurricane Frances or Jeane tore it apart.

[Barb Matthews]

Thanks everyone. I found one and will be ordering as soon as it warms up. 

[Thomas Duffey]

End-user here, not a grower.  What I would appreciate input on is this:  Do any of you think this plant would be a reasonable choice for 30-inch containers in Wisconsin, where height is desired.  Obviously, used as an annual.  Probably pared with something else of a vigorous nature, say Tidal Wave petunias or some other plant.

 

How would my grower have to handle this?  Would they need a super-early start and hence, need a high price for a number of these plants?  Incidentally, while I do want height, the 4 to 10 feet listed in some of the literature I've seen would actually be excessive for this application.  So too, I ask, is this thing prunable?  Most herbaceous plants can be trimmed back, but not all.  I think too that growing in a container may hold it back some from reaching its full genetic potential!  Any thoughts, anybody?

[Paul Westervelt]

Donna, try Dave Biggars at the Liner Farm. Also Agristarts had it on their availbility this spring.

[terry]

Thomas-I don't think that var. manihot would be your best choice for a 30" container-they tend to get bulky in size, but they are great in the landscape. I would think a A. portodora would be cool, but they will get up to 4' easily, esp if they get enough slow release fert and consistent watering through the summer. and the slenderness of it at the base will allow for some med. size plant planted around the base of the alocasia-Tidal wave is good because it grows downward and upward. I would think that in a 30" container, you would want at least 4' height for your centerpiece. Another great centerpiece is R. Princess grass.

Thomas Duffey said:

End-user here, not a grower.  What I would appreciate input on is this:  Do any of you think this plant would be a reasonable choice for 30-inch containers in Wisconsin, where height is desired.  Obviously, used as an annual.  Probably pared with something else of a vigorous nature, say Tidal Wave petunias or some other plant.

 

How would my grower have to handle this?  Would they need a super-early start and hence, need a high price for a number of these plants?  Incidentally, while I do want height, the 4 to 10 feet listed in some of the literature I've seen would actually be excessive for this application.  So too, I ask, is this thing prunable?  Most herbaceous plants can be trimmed back, but not all.  I think too that growing in a container may hold it back some from reaching its full genetic potential!  Any thoughts, anybody?

[Thomas Duffey]

Thanks Terry.  I've ended any use of Alocasias and Colocasias in such settings-the incessant winds of downtown "canyon" sites whips and rips them to shreds!  As to things like tidal Wave petunias, I've had a long and successful relationship to them in these very-sized containers.  I'm looking for something beyond that.  And the height aspect comes from not only my own predeliction towards having a higher plant in the center-been doing that since day one-but also because "customers" have hinted that they'd like height in these particular planters.

 

So I'll pose the same question but with a slightly different angle:  If the manihot was planted in the center, and if at least a modicum of attention to pruning out basal portions to make some room for companion plants was paid, do you still see this as untenable.  I've done a lot of different things in both containers and in the ground!  An exuberant outcome is not a mistake in my book.  It wouldn't be the first time I had to adjust things as they developed.

 

Thanks again for the reply.

[Paul Westervelt]

Thomas, I've used Manihot successfully in 24" and 30" mixed containers at home and I've seen them used to great effect in combos other places in smaller pots. Longwood Gardens had a great combo several years ago with Manihot, Lantana and Russelia in what appears (from my pic) to be a 20" pot. Norfolk Botanic Garden had a unique vertical combo with Manihot and a very upright, succulent euphorb in what looks (again from my pic) to be an 18" pot. There are piles of growers who have more experience with Manihot than I do, but I've never found it to be a thug that outgrows its container. That said, it does like the heat and will grow right through the hottest times when other plants poop out. There's no way you'll reach anything close to 10' in a single growing season unless you're starting with a massive plant and train it to be upright. 4' is a real possibility though - especially if water and fert aren't limited. They are prunable, but the new growth is so pretty, I'd hate to cut it off. If you just need vertical for show and can get the bulk of your color from the companions, you might try Stachytarpheta mutabilis. It's uncommon and gets a lot of questions at our place. Some of the tropical red leaf Hibiscus might also fit the bill - 'Panama Red' and the variegated 'Haight Ashbury' are two of my favorites. And for something totally weird, consider Amicia zygomeris or Solanum quitoense. For more inspiration, check out Peace Tree Farms - they're great people and some of the geekiest of plant geeks :)