Isl and HOMe islander Air potato: Not your ordinary potato

By SANIBEL VEGETATION COMMITTEE

(Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles by members of the city of Sanibel's Vegetation Committee dealing with vegetative matters of concern to island residents )

Fishtail palm

Fishtail palm is perfect for island living

The fishtail palm (Caryota mitis) is originally from Southeast Asia and does well in our warm climate and it will even withstand some of the cold snaps that o c c u r i n S o u t h w e s t Florida It is an easy care palm, versatile and pretty popular in tropical landscapes either as a specimen or to create a privacy hedge

The palm got its name because of the unusual, jagged flat fishtail look that develops when the leaves open up No other palm has this leaf design Used as a background plant with other tropical plants in front, it will create a lush, layered tropical look

The fishtail palm does very well in a sunny area, but can also survive indoors as long as it is near a window receiving indirect light When considering this palm as part of your landscape plan, consider spacing them out about 6 feet away from the house or structure

If you would like to use them as a privacy screen, they should be planted at least 5-6 feet apart The palm can be a slow growing, but it can reach heights of about 20-25 feet, making it a good choice as a buffer between taller buildings and residences

For something different, try mixing in a few fishtail palms in your buffer and enjoy the variety it brings to any landscape planting.

In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel For more information, contact 239-395-5859 or visit www facebook com/rswalshinthegarden

By LCEC

One of Florida’s most troublesome invaders is the “air potato” (Dioscorea bulbifera), a member of the family of the true yams Air potato, like most yams, is a vine which c a n n o t s u p p o r t i t s o w n w e i g h t I n o r d e r t o c a p t u r e s u n l i g h t , t h e a i r p o t a t o a s c e n d s b y twining and climbing other plants An a i r p o t a t o f o r m s dense canopies that can shade out vegetation, and cause the c o l l a p s e o f n a t i v e plants It can grow up to 70 feet in one season, starting from the previous season’s tubers These tubers, also referred to as bulbils, closely resemble potatoes and grow attached to stems, appearing in mid-summer and falling to the ground in late fall when the vines die back The potatoes lie dormant until the following spring, when they sprout and begin the cycle again

Found in Asia, Africa, and the United States, air potatoes thrive all over Florida, which of course, includes Sanibel Sanibel has included air potato on its list of regulated invasive, exotic plants These plants must be removed when a property is developed, and the property must be maintained free of these invasive exotics in perpetuity

Unfortunately, air potatoes are extremely difficult to eradicate. Herbicides do temporarily halt the growth of the vine, but require repeated applications and careful protection of desirable neighboring plants Hand picking the potatoes and digging up the roots may slow down next year’s vines and crop tubers, but a few missed tubers can mean failure Do not dispose of potatoes or vines in vegetative waste

The best hope for stopping this creeping vine, which can quickly suffocate trees and bushes, appears to be a tiny red and black beetle Lili beetle (Liloceris cheni) that has a voracious appetite for air potato leaves Since releasing several hundred thousand beetles, Florida has seen a significant reduction in these vines Beetles are available free of charge to residents and municipalities f r o m t h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e (http://bcrcl ifas ufl edu/airpotatofiles/airpotatoforms sht ml)

For more information or articles, visit www.mysanibel com/Departments/Natural-Resources To view the city’s “The Alien Invasion” brochure, visit online or call the Natural Resources Department at 239-472-3700