Tree ID please - Cascabela thevetia

[AndyC]

This very attractive small tree was growing in a public garden in Lanzarote, please excuse the picture quality
The fruit are dark green and about the size of large grape. They turn black when ripe and contain large black nobbly seeds. I've germinated one so would like to know what I have got. Thanks.

[Paul S]

Cascabela thevetia syn Thevetia peruviana.

Related to Oleander and said to be even more toxic :)

[AndyC]

Cheers Paul. Another one I can soon add to list of plants I've killed. :)

[Paul S]

A list? Mine is a series of volumes :lol:

[AndyC]

:lol: Is Pampas Grass in one of your volumes?
It's on my list but then it was something I deliberately killed. It took a couple of large bonfires built over it and a good deal of hacking and digging to be rid of it.
I've inherited a large clump in my new garden but unfortunately it is too close to the neighbours house to burn. Any tips?

[Paul S]

I've found both of these effective here. I inherited 3 ancient clumps.



or



badgers love pampas leaves for their bedding - makes a change from Echium leaves, which they also like.

[kGarden]

Pampas Grass ... I've inherited a large clump in my new garden but unfortunately it is too close to the neighbours house to burn. Any tips?

New hobby?

The Guardian - Alternative Uses for Pampas Grass

:)

[AndyC]

:lol: That's brilliant. We know the people who sold us the house (they live next door). I'll run this past them.

Paul, I don't have either of those Pampas grass removal tools, where can I buy a badger?

[Paul S]

You are more than welcome to one of mine. 2, even.

[charlie]

Seem to remember chopping ours that we inherited out using a mattock (one of my favourite gardening tools!) Liz had previously set fire to it while I was away at sea, I think she was worried about our 2 year old with the sharp edges of the leaves but all she achieved was to piss off the Hedgehog that had been kipping in it and giving it a new lease of life!