Re: [Aroid-l] Amorphphallus Bulbifer hardiness

**S* M* <samarak@gizmoworks.com>**

I've had konjac outdoors now for over 20 years (NW Arkansas, USDA zone 6, 
occasional z5 nights, last 7-8 years zone 7), so I'm finally fairly 
confident it's hardy here. I've given some to the Denver BG, too, and 
they've come back now for some years, so even though DBG is famous for 
being a haven of zone 5 hardiness it's starting to look pretty solid to 
me. You never really know until something's been through a variety of 
winters.

I wonder is if the hardiness of konjac or its adapatbility to my climate 
is as variable as everything else about it seems to be. I've acquired a 
few other clones here and there, and so far none seem as vigorous outdoors 
as the first one I grew. A couple have disappeared out there, in fact, and 
none look as happy as that original clone. That one flowers every 2nd year 
or so, too - as usual, after flowering they usually decide to split into 5 
or 6 and take the next year or even two off.

I know some of you grow a number of clones of konjac - have any of you 
tried a bunch of them outdoors in zone 6 or lower winters? And if so did 
they all perform equally well?

(I think there is hope for bulbifer, at least for some clones, at least 
into my climate - it could be a while before the data is in. But I think 
konjac's clearly the toughest, hardiest amorph to date.)

Steve

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007, Ken Mosher wrote:

> Nope, I don't think bulbifer will survive. I'm surprised that your 
> konjac has been reliably hardy.
> 
> -Ken
> 
> hostas@fuse.net wrote:
> > I have had Konjac in the ground for about 6 years and it is still 
> > doing great.  Although it comes up in June, it still gets about 4 1/2 
> > feet tall.  I have never had it flower otdoors, but the ones I bring 
> > in do flower.
> > 
> > So you think Bulbifer (or any of the others) will survive the winters 
> > in a zone 5/6 garden (I am right on the edge of these zones).

-- Steve Marak
-- samarak@gizmoworks.com
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