Re: Arum italicum
- Subject: Re: [SG] Arum italicum
- From: Bobbi Diehl d*@INDIANA.EDU
- Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 20:06:56 -0500
George,
If you are zone 5 I am sure you can grow Arum italicum. I have grown it
for years. It's a wonderful plant (along with Hellebores) because it stays
evergreen all winter. And I mean the leaves stay REALLY GREEN and nice
looking. Digression: Another evergreen plant is my St. John's Wort
(species unknown, but it **is** a Hypericum). This one doesn't get much
attention, and it is a bit of a thug, but I love it. It has pretty yellow
flowers at midsummer too. Some of the so-called broadleaf evergreens like
Viburnum pragensis and rhododendrons are shivering, with their leaves
rolled up into cigars. Not Hypericum!
I bought my arums from Dutch Gardens, and they were NOT expensive. This
was years ago, but I just checked their catalog on line, and they say 5
bulbs are $5.95. I'm sure I only bought 5 bulbs. They didn't increase, but
they hold their own under a large Canadian Hemlock. So, go for it. Come to
think of it, I may order some more myself.
My friend who grows cyclamen in zone 5 has mainly succeeded by means of
sowing seed. She did this years ago (maybe 10?), using all the different
cyclamen seeds she could find, and now has a sweet little colony of--I
suspect--hederifolium, but there may be some others in there. Coum and
cilicium are possibilities. Also purpureum but I doubt it. Again, go for
it! I planted tubers at about the same time, and they have not increased a
whole lot and were very expensive. Seeds are the way to go if you have the
time.
Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington, IN
zone 5/6
On Thu, 23 Jan 2003, George Africa wrote:
> Each year I want to give the Arum italicum a try in my lower
> shade garden. I never want to part with $15 to try a few but really
> should. Same holds true with some of the Cyclamens--hederofolium may be
> the name of one. I'm not familiar with any but do enjoy seeing their
> pictures in catalogs. If they were successful here I'd want
> hundreds.....a dream.
>
