river cane

[pjsnell]

Does river cane grow in Ontario (Canada)?  I've tried the Martha Stewart cane, but have had limited success.  I guess I'll check out the local garden centres again this spring.

[the Ferret]

No it won't grow that far north

[Tilbilly]

Umm..er..well... I'm in the southern-most part of Ontario. My parents' house is close by. Here's some cane in the pic from my Pa's backyard. It's the stuff surrounded by chicken wire. Didn't get there naturally, of course. He ordered it online from some place in B.C., along with a coupla other varieties, including giant. The pic is just after the first year. There's alot more there now. Before winter, you have to heavily mulch it, and then cover it with a big plastic sheet to keep it from getting wiped out. But each year it starts up again and spreads a little farther. He put up some chicken wire to keep the bunnies from eating tender new shoots. One of these days I may see him make a finished arrow with one of those cane.
 

[the Ferret]

well shut my mouth. According to the books it doesn't grow that far north ha ha

[Tilbilly]

Hee Hee. Well technically you're right. If you wander the countryside here, you'll never find any.It can be "imported" here. And then it needs protection for the winter. And it'll never get quite as impressive as elsewhere. The giant variety will never get to the point where you can back a bow with it. But the odd person here/there will try to grow it for something unique in the yard. Plus, the county where I live is called the "banana belt" due to milder winters and really hot/hazy summers. Lake effect, plus humidity from the Ohio Valley. I suppose that helps grow 'boo.