RE: speaking of plants... what a concept!

Well Marge seems we like some of the same plants, although I am starting
to believe you have one of everything over there...:)

Interesting that you don't think some will make it here as a hardy
plant. Of course I realized the Alocasia would never be, but the others
are listed as zone5, with the exception of that saccharum variety which
is zone 6 that I can get away with in certain spots.

Of course after wandering over to the site on Arisaema, now I found more
of them I want! For what ever reason, couldn't get the Suite 101 links
up, even after pasting together... will try again later.

I think I need to do more research! :)

Thanks!
Donna


> 
> Donna, see you posted this to Perennials, too, so I'm crossposting my
> reply; apologies to those of you on both lists.
> 
> Well, I have all three Arisaema.  Jim's right - all are different and
> marvelous.  As he said, candidissimum has a bloom that - on my plant
> - is a clear shell pink; large leaf; late to put its head up and
> bloom.
> 
> Fargesii is one of my favorites - huge leaves, purple striped blooms
> held mostly under the umbrella type leaves - closely related to
> candidissimum and also very late to emerge.
> 
> Sikokianum has the most striking inflorescence of all because the
> spathe is white - my current one is the kind with the variegated leaf
> - simply a stunning plant.  This is the pickiest of the 3 you list
> because it is prone to rotting in winter wet; sometimes just plain
> short-lived, but well worth replacing if you lose it.
> 
> I would send you to my series of articles on Arisaema as I discuss
> all three of these, but I find that the Suite101.com image gremlin is
> at work and none of the images in my articles that are stored on the
> Suite server are currently loading:-(
> 
> So, check out The Arisaema Page for images of the above:
> 
> http://www.head-crash.com/~rrh/arisaema.html
> 
> Any Alocasia can be potted up for winter - or simply live in a pot
> all year around.  You can allow it to go dormant, in which case you
> need to keep it relatively cool (like around 50F) and on the dry
> side.  Or, you can treat it as a house plant with heat and water
> throughout winter - and light - and it will just keep growing for
> you.  You can't have too many Alocasias:-)  They all grow the same
> way, no matter if hybrid or not.  Only difference might be in the
> amount of sun required or tolerated...and, of course size and leaf
> shape and color.
> 
> I don't know the Amsonia...5" sounds odd tho' for this genus.
> 
> I do not have the Asparagus verticillatus, but saw it at Tony Avents
> a couple years ago.  Very interesting plant that I have considered
> getting.  Doubt it would be hardy for you; think it would be iffy for
> me, but definitely of great interest in the garden - not strange or
> weird, but neat.
> 
> You cannot go wrong with any Epimedium.  You need to get Darryl
> Probst's catalog - he is my Epimedium guru.  He tells which will
> tolerate dry and which won't and which are spreaders and which are
> clumpers, etc.
> 
> I have Indigofera kirilowii and enjoy it no end.  Have not found it
> invasive.  Have had it in (of course) the wrong place - a raised bed,
> where it gets too tall - since I put in that raised bed garden; what
> is that now, five years or so anyway.  It has started to sucker a bit
> - there is one offset about 8" from the main stem, but I would not
> class that as invasive.
> 
> Charming small shrub type plant.  I have mine in part shade; like it
> gets some direct early/midday sun and is in shade the rest of the
> day; blooms like mad.  Gets about 3' tall; of course, I give mine a
> haircut in spring, so don't know how tall it would get if you just
> left it alone.
> 
> Here are some so-so pix of mine.  If the URL line-wraps, you'll need
> to copy and paste to use it.
> 
> http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/222/files/indigofera-kirilowii-40
> 0x575.jpg
> http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/222/files/indigofera-kirilowii-bu
> ds-close-237x109.jpg
> http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/222/files/indigofera-kirilowii-fl
> ower-close-233x236.jpg
> 
> Also highly recommend Bletilla striata.  I've been growing the one
> with the 'variegated' leaf - actually a *very* thin creamy white line
> around the edge of the leaf - for almost 15 years in a large raised
> planter.  Moved a bit a couple of years ago to another spot and it
> seems happy there as well.  Gets part sun/shade; good drainage but
> does not dry out as I water that planter.   Only thing you have to
> watch with this plant is its tendency to rise very early in spring
> and get nipped by frost.  Doesn't kill it, but once the foliage is
> disfigured, it stays that way all year.  I throw Remay over mine if I
> can manage to do it.  Great leaves as well as flowers.  I see Gene
> has a couple I don't have and want.
> 
> Don't grow Saccharum but according to John Greenlee's 'Encyclopedia
> of Ornamental Grasses', it's only hardy to z 9-10.  Gets 12-15' tall.
>  He does say some hardy clones have survived 10F and show promise as
> selections for colder areas.   Appears there are several clones with
> varying colors of canes.  Also says it grows well in pots or tubs, so
> you could do that and bring it in for winter.  Canes are edible -
> same as sugar cane used for sugar production.
> 
> Calopogon tuberosus is another I do not have so can't help, but
> orchids can take a few years to settle down - I'd say 2 or 3 off the
> top of my head as I've known other bulbous plants to take that long
> after being disturbed.
> 
> I do not find Yucca a fast growing plant, so if you want something
> that makes a statement, best try for it locally.  Don't know that one
> as all I have are filamentosa and the yellow var. one whose name I
> forget.
> 
> Nice list there, Donna:-)
> 
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@hort.net
> Editor:  Gardening in Shade

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