If one buys new plants how close do you think they can be planted to exsisting plants without harming the established plants.I'd like to add to the same spot ut afraid of disturbing the roots .Thanks
Ray

Hi, Fred,

With most Cyps, new plants can be planted about a foot from old ones with no problem. You will want to leave at least that much room anyway since a few years of growth will result in perhaps 6 - 10 stems. An exception is Cyp reginae which can grow enormous root systems. Within just a few years root systems up to three feet in diameter are not uncommon. My reginae are about two feet apart.

Ron Burch

You will want to leave at least that much room anyway since a few years of growth will result in perhaps 6 - 10 stems.

Ron Burch

Maybe in your garden Ron! :lol:

I agree that a foot is all that is required, but be careful digging on the side closest to the existing plant. Cyp roots can extend much further than you may think, over two feet in some species (even three feet with C. reginae).

Also, on a somewhat related note, be careful not to plant aggressive companion plants with Cyps since they can be easily overrun and out competed. Slow growing ferns, moss, and dwarf woodland perennnials are the best choices, but be sure that the Cyp leaves don't get shaded out.

Tom

Thanks guys. After this most recent rainfall I see where I had another plant push it's way up which means I didn't lose any over the winter I didn't grow any new ones but am very happy about not losing any either.

Fred,

Even though some of the books and articles will tell you that your plant will grow 3 to 5 new stems each year, with rare exception it has been my experience that the plant will put up the same number of stems for the first couple of years then will send up more, often at the rate of 2-3 per year, and, rarely, even 5. My winner is a Gisela which went from 2 to 5 to 9 to 14. I find that reginae in particular, at least for me, keep the same number of stems for several years, then put up a bunch of new ones. One of my reginaes, which had 2 stems the first year, and 3 each of the past 3 years, this spring has 7 stems. Of course there are others, like my tibeticum for example, that has had one stem each year for the past 6 years (and the same this year). At least it blooms each year!

Ron Burch