Foodscaping is a relatively new concept in horticulture which interplants edibles with ornamentals, or utilizes ornamentals that are also edible. One plant that exemplifies this is sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). This plant is in the grass family, ranging in color from green to red, resembling bamboo from afar. In the landscape, it makes a wonderful backdrop or feature, drawing the attention of passersby.

Types of Sugarcane

Chewing Cane

Sugarcane breeders cultivate sugarcane for three main purposes. The first is for people to chew it directly after harvest.  For example, varieties such as ‘Yellow Gal’ or ‘Georgia Red’ have softer fibers tending to stick together when you crunch them. Therefore, when harvesting this type, you should cut the stalks into manageable pieces, peel them, and discard any remaining pulp.

Syrup Cane

Breeders develop the next type of sugarcane for syrup. You’ve likely heard of this type, as people use it like maple syrup—on pancakes, drizzled over biscuits, and in glazes. Farmers press these canes after harvest to produce sugarcane juice, which people can also drink because it tastes delicious. If you then boil down that juice, making sure you scrape off any sediment, you’ll create syrup. Both the cultivars ‘Louisiana Purple’ and ‘Louisiana Ribbon’ will work well for this purpose in North Florida.

Granular Cane

The final version is for crystallized sugar. This version, found in the cultivar ‘Crystal Cane’, is not practical for home growers. They will grow and produce syrup like other varieties, but the process of turning the syrup into crystallized sugar involves some specialty equipment.

How to Grow

To grow sugarcane in your landscape, you’ll need to find a friend who has mature sugarcane, as seeds tend to be unreliable. Trim a cutting to around 5-6 nodes, also known as growth points. While best planted August-November, it is also possible to get this plant in the ground in the spring once the risk of frost has passed.

A few notes on planting. Make sure you place this plant in a low-trafficked area. They’ll need well-drained soil in full sun.  A general rule of thumb is to provide them with 1lb of fertilizer per 10 feet of plant. A much better way to approach fertilization is to have your soil tested. Testing allows you to adjust pH as needed and supplement those elements that may be absent.

Sum it Up

Sugarcane is a great way to add an eye-catching yet edible element to your garden. It’s easy to grow, and can take your landscape to a whole new level. For more information with this and many other horticulture topics, contact you local UF/IFAS Extension Office

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