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Manihot grahamii |
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| | Just planted – about 5 ft tall |
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| Common name |
hardy tapioca tree |
| Family |
euphorbiaceae |
| Life cycle |
shrub/small tree (Z7-11)  |
| Flowers |
green (summer) |
| Size |
12-15' |
| Light |
sun-light shade |
| Cultural notes |
drought-tolerant |
Fast-growing winter-deciduous small tree from South America with attractively shaped palmate leaves that tremble in the wind. It is hardier than its edible cousin (M. esculenta, commonly grown in variegated form), but sports a similar leaf shape and overall form. In Houston's climate, it is reportedly trunk-hardy, but may still benefit from some judicious pruning in late winter to keep the size and shape manageable. The nurseryman who sold it to me said it will self-seed too – so I may have some gifts for gardening neighbors if this thrives in our garden.
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Our specimen lost its leaves on one of its main branches in autumn, well before the weather turned cold. After a frost arrived, the rest of the leaves dropped. I hoped that this was its normal leaf drop pattern, with foliage returning in spring; the little tree looked awfully lifeless and frail. I was even more concerned after the Texas megafreeze killed many trees and shrubs – but was happy to see signs of new growth near the top of the main leaders a few weeks later, leaving just a few inches of deadwood above it.
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| | Promising growth returning a few weeks after big freeze... |
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| ...which developed into full leaves by another two weeks later
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In our garden, this plant grows in the following area: foundation border About my plant portraits
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Last modified:
April 03, 2021
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