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RE: Arthropodiums

Tim Longville wrote:

I've recently been involved in a discussion on Alpine-L about various
arthropodium spp., as grown in the UK. Only spp so far tried seem to
be A. cirrhatum, A. candidum (plus A. c. purpureum) and A.
milleflorum. Some disagreement between UK growers (perhaps based on
different moisture levels in different parts of the UK, perhaps based
on different hardiness levels of particular seed sources?) as to which
of those three spp is the hardiest and which if any can be thought of
as reliably perennial in the ground.

I wondered (a) if they're grown elsewhere (Calif?) and if so what
people's experiences with them have been (soil? situation? hardiness
levels?); (b) if any other spp are grown elsewhere (I think there are
around a dozen all told) and, supposing they are, if any of them might
be either possible candidates for favoured UK gardens or so desirable
that they're worth wrestling with even if totally impossible?


Arthropodium are in the lily family, and the genus has about 12 species. 
Apparently most come from Australia, but one can be found in New Guinea, 
one in New Caledonia and one in Madagascar. I am afraid I do not know the 
names of these, but I do know about A. candidum and A. cirratum (note that 
there is no H in the spelling), both of which are endemic to New Zealand, 
and grow the latter in my own garden. A. candidum should be the hardiest, 
as it grows down to the far south of the country, around latitude 47o 
South, albeit in lowland areas. However, although A. cirratum is only 
stated to be half-hardy in most reference books (it doesn't grow anywhere 
near as far south, only just making it into the South Island, around 42o 
South), it certainly survives frosts down to -5 to -7oC  and occasional 
snow. From my experience I would say it is a little hardier than 
Agapanthus. However, it helps to have it planted under trees for frost 
protection, and it grows better in shade anyway, with longer leaves and 
taller flower spires (up to 1 metre).

It doesn't seem to be fussy about soil conditions. I have some growing very 
well on a bank under some old pines. Very little nutrient in the soil, 
highly acid from the pine needles and little moisture during the summer. I 
also have some alongside my driveway. Fairly neutral soil and damp almost 
all year round. Both situations get no more than one to two hours sun per 
day in the summer, almost zero in winter.

As far as desirability is concerned, a massed planting of A. cirratum in 
flower is a wonderful sight and I wouldn't be without it. It will grow in 
quite dry shade, where few other plants prosper, so is great for woodland 
settings, and flowers in mid-summer. Slugs and snails are supposed to like 
it, but as I do not have any of these beasties in my garden, I cannot 
comment on that first hand. Perhaps it should be treated like hostas from 
that perspective. It self seeds readily, and after many years a handful of 
plants will have spread to form a large dense area of very good ground 
cover.

Its Maori name is Rengarenga.

Tim Dutton
"Raindrops", Main Road North, Kaitoke, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Latitude 41o 5' South, Longitude 175o 10' East
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