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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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| | Smooth plump buds in early June... |
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| | ...soon turning to seedpods with orange bands |
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| | As the pods grow, the orange disappears |
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| | More flowers in year three, higher up in the tree |
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In the heat of summer, our tree is constantly shedding leaves: they suddenly go yellow and droopy, and drop soon afterwards. I don't know what causes this; a fellow gardener suggested drought stress, but this was happening even at times when rainfall was plentiful.
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In our garden, this plant grows in the following area: foundation border About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Manihot grahamii
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Marc | Sep 12, 2021 | I have two 10 footers with seed pods. I would like to share some seeds, when should they be cut off the plant, as I understand they explode!! Marc #eyebrowhousepdx
My specimen bloomed and started to form a seed pod, but then dropped it – so I haven't seen ripened seed yet. Hopefully next year... |
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