HIMALAYACALAMUS FALCONERI DAMARAPA

Photo  Hawaiian photo

 

10' height, Shade/sun, 15 degrees F Minimum, Clumper.

 

        The name on this one changes so often we can't keep up with it.  The latest name change is based on English botanist Chris Stapleton's recent visit to the Indian Himalayan mountains.  Colorful clumper which requires a moist cool climate to look good.  The culms have deep green, pink, purple, white, yellow & light green stripes.  Occasionally a leaf is variegated with white stripes.

        Hermine - "A great beauty, both delicate & spectacular.  The juvenile plant is twiggy & not typical of the mature specimen with its fat, richly colored canes.  I can't praise it enough.  Shangri-La was landscaped with Hookeriana.  What more can I say?"

        Specimens said to survive the severe winter of 1984-85 in Europe down to 7 degrees F, but Claude Rifat says the foliage is killed to the ground in Geneva at 17 degrees F.  On the other hand, the plant failed for Gary Stinson in Menifee, California which only gets down to around freezing but has very dry air.

        A pot was imported into the U.S. from Germany by the ABS in 1981.  A 15 gallon pot sold at the '86 ABS auction for $175.  A 5 gallon pot sold at the '88 NCCABS auction for $80.  A 15 gallon pot sold at the '88 ABS auction for $180.  A small plant was sold at the fall '91 SCABS sale for $25.  Two 5 gallon pots sold at the fall '91 NWABS sale for $45 each.  A 5 gallon pot was offered at the fall '92 SCABS sale for $75 & 5 collectors tried to buy it.  A small plant sold at the '94 ABS auction in San Francisco for $25.  A 15 gallon pot 4' high sold for $100 & a gallon pot 3' high sold for $60 at the spring '95 SCABS auction.  At the '95 SCABS fall sale 3 6" pots sold for $30 each & an 8" pot sold for $50.