I gave a dear friend in Sebastapol (Sunset zone 15, USDA 9) a Charles Grimaldi. She has ongoing gopher problems. I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the roots are poisonous to gophers.

I'm recommending she plant it in a wine half barrel, the bottom of which has been partially cut out to allow it to grow beyond the pot. She can dig a large hole under this pot & line it with chicken wire, replace the soil & put the wine barrel on top; but that's quite a hassle.

[I got one for myself too & plan to plant it in a half wine barrel *without* cutting out the bottom, as a way to limit its size to about 5-6'. Anyone grown one in such a huge pot?]

Thoughts and/or experiences?

Thanks,

Karen