Re: thoughts on these plants anyone?

Hello Donna,
    I would like to throw my two cents worth in here. I have been collecting
and growing these strange beauties for some years now. I have had A.
candidissimum for quite a few years and it is tough and reliable. Late
emerger so does not get hit by frosts... which Arisaema are fairly sensitive
to. Cold hardy, just do not like frost after they emerge. There are
variations on a theme when it comes to bloom color. Know that a pure white
exists. Mine is a mauve-pink and white. I think it is probably the most
desirable of the arisaema for color. Everyone wants some when they visit the
garden and see it in bloom. Great foliage as well. Mine is in a raised bed
type environment, open woodland. Lots of light but out of direct sun in the
afternoon. Phlox stolonifera is a companion. do not bloom at the same time,
but good green companion for the arisaema to come up out of as it unfurls.
    Fargesii is as easy as home made sin. Raised bed, eastern exposure. Does
not emerge until late June, early July here. You will swear you have lost it
every year. Enormous leaves in threes... and I do mean big. Very tropical in
appearance, but perfectly hardy. Will be around in the garden when that hard
frost comes through in late fall. Mine is deep, waxy, chocolate with white
pin stripes. Mine is with Japanese painted ferns.
    Sikokianum I am trying again this year. Transplanted 3 more tubers last
fall. I can not seem to keep this one. It emerges far too early here. We get
a warm spell in February and up it comes... to be hit by the real winter we
still have to experience. Not a pretty sight. After a couple of years of
this it gives up the ghost. See if you can locate a spot where the winter
sun does not warm up the soil early. One of the things I tried to do this
past fall hopping it will make a difference. also I found a friend in Maine
who grew some from seed in their environment. Perhaps this time it will be a
keeper. If you ever see one in a garden, you will understand why I, and most
others, keep playing with this one to make it a keeper. Stunning. Mine has a
companion of creeping mint... Meehania cordata
    Just to get ones big toe wet on collecting these ... try our native Jack
in the Pulpit.. A. tryphyllum... coming up through a ground cover of
partridge berry... Mitchella repens.
    Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
www.munchkinnursery.com
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
Zone 6/5  Southern Indiana

----- Original Message -----
> Anyone grow these, looking for thoughts.
> -----
> Arisaema, if you could only pick one, what would it be and why:
>           Candidissimum
>           Fargesii
>           Sikokianum
> Also, what do you use for companion plants?

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