Re: Anemone Sylvestris ( and Helleborus foetidus)

Louise,

Sounds like your H. foetidus would be happier getting moved tho'
they, like all hellebores aren't fond of getting moved around - take
a good earth ball with it.

I think your resource on Arisaema is being conservative because many
species are quite hardy in my climate, which I know gets colder and
hotter than yours.  Check out the marvelous Arisaema Page:

http://genesis.ne.mediaone.net/~rrh/arisaema.html

Has photos that will definitely turn on the lust button and a list of
hardiness ratings plus more info and links.

You side of the pond, Paul Christian's Rare Plants carries a lot of
them..

http://rareplants.co.uk/index.htm

Of those he's currently listing (tho' some are sold out or not
available at this time) A. triphyllum is bone hardy and tough as
nails.  A. sikokianum is one of my faves...hardy, but wants it dry 
when dormant.  A. ringens is also hardy and a very striking, large
form from the ones I've seen...mine are still seedlings.  A. flavum
is another hardy one and A. consanguineum should also do well.  A.
candidissimum is hardy and very lovely, large spathes with a pink
cast.

Arisaema are easy from seed, in my experience, just taking a few
years of tender care until they reach a size large enough to set in
the garden and compete with what's already in there.  If you get
seed, soak them in warm water with a drop or two of dishwashing
liquid soap for a day or two - changing the water frequently.  Sow as
you'd normally sow, making sure you add extra grit to the compost so
it drains well. I top my pots with grit.  Should germinate in about a
month or so at about 70F ( 21C).  The tiny tubers that form will go
dormant in late summer or earlier if they get too dry.  They should
be kept fairly dry when dormant as they tend to rot if too moist,
esp. A. sikokianum - have lost a few of those from too much winter
moisture.  They also need a cold period when dormant to encourage
them to break dormancy and grow again.  Anything around 40F (4 C)
should do it....many put them in the fridge if they go dormant in
summer to hasten the cycle and growth..I don't bother.

If you find yourself becoming hooked on Arisaema, join the Arisaema
Enthusiasts Group (AEG) and get on Arisaema-L email list...also makes
you eligible for the seed exchange.  Archives to list have much
valuable info for seed starting and growing one, etc. and are on the
web:

http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/arisaema-l.html

You can sign up for the list on the archive page, but to join AEG you
need to email Ray Stillwell at:

GRSJr@Juno.com 

RHS Plantfinder really does work. I use it all the time - not to find
plant sources in the UK, but to verify names and cultivars - it's one
of the few online lists that lists about every known cultivar for
just about every species.  RHS have re-done the site - much very
useful info there.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Louise <louise@the-english-family.freeserve.co.uk>
> Date: Thursday, January 11, 2001 2:23 AM
> 
> 
> Hello Marge
> 
> You wrote: > In your climate, I should think H. foetidus would want
a good
> deal of
> > sun.  This one, like H. argutifolius, likes some sun...actually,
I've
> > read where just about all Helleborus do well in sun.  In my
climate,
> > H. foetidus does well in a fair amount of shade, but it really
wants
> > a few rays to hit it.  They don't seem affected by our summer dry
> > seasons - and this with temps in the 90sF.  Both of these like
good
> > drainage - often are found in very rocky places in the wild.
> 
> That explains it.  It's in an extremely shady part of the garden
that gets
> no sun at all, not even in high summer.  If it's still alive (was a
couple
> of weeks ago, but looking pathetic) I'll move it very quickly.  Got
a few
> dry days coming up according to the weather forecast.  Drainage
won't be a
> problem for it in the bed I have in mind for it.
> 
> > You've got a nice list.  What about some Arisaema?  I'm hooked on
> > these guys and they do very well in a lot of shade, but also take
> > some sun.
> 
> This is completely new to me.  I've just looked them up in my
gardening
> encyclopedia, and it seems that, most species are only on the
borderline of
> hardiness here.  Wonderful looking though, and completely different
from
> everything else I've chosen. ... Just looked at Chiltern Seeds, and
they
> list quite a few and seem to consider them hardy here.
> 
> > Or Arum....also good for shady spots...and don't forget ferns, a
> > mainstay of shady places...and then there are Trilliums,
Dodecatheon,
> > Stylophorum diphyllum (Celandine Poppy or  Wood Poppy) and
> > Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot).  Tellima grandiflora is easy
-
> > seeds around a bit, but makes nice foliage for summer to go with
the
> > slender wands of white spring flowers or about any of the
Tiarellas.
> 
> I'll have to look these up.  Lots of temptation I dare say.
> 
> > Don't forget the biennials like Lunaria annua or biennis as it
may
> > now be (honesty) and Hesperis matronalis (dame's rocket).
> 
> Yes, got both of these - wouldn't be without honesty in my garden
and the
> Hesperis matronalis flowered for the first time for me in my garden
last
> year - wonderful scent.  It was flowering right where I put out the
washing,
> lovely.
> 
> > As for sources for plants in the UK...have you tried the RHS
> > PlantFinder?  Plug in a plant and it will tell you all the
nurseries
> > in the UK who carry it.
> >
> > http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder.asp
> 
> Funnily enough, I was reading the January issue of The Garden
yesterday and
> they had an article in there about their website.  I thought I must
go and
> have another look.  Last time I was looking at the site, I wasn't
looking
> for plants, so I've not used the plantfinder yet.  Hope it's as
good as it
> sounds.  I'll have a look this weekend when telephone calls are
cheaper.
> 
> Thanks for all your suggestions.
> Louise, Surrey, England
> 
> 
>
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