Arisaema

Arisaema ochraceum

Walnut-sized tubers make a 20-25cm tall stem with a small whorled leaf umbrella. Below peeks a miniature spathe of caramel, lined with white and brown, dotted outside with chocolate.

The name is not valid, but this answers to no known Himalayan species! Garden.

Arisaema ochraceumariochoch	£5.50

Arisaema omeiense

I have for some years regarded this as the same species as A. auriculatum, whilst managing to ignore several major and obvious differences that were staring me in the face!

A. omeiense is considerably dwarfer than A. auriculatum, it has white tubers with very noticeable stolons and the tubers are much smaller; indeed 1cm across and 2.5g in weight is huge for this plant.

Other differences include the fact that the foliage is less divided, the leaflets are broader and the side lobes of the spathe are much larger and more elongated. The colouring of the spathe is reddish brown and it is more spotted with a longer, more tapering spadix. It is one of those cases whereby the differences are very obvious, but only once you have seen them!

This is a superb little dwarf species. These are small but clearly flowering sized tubers. I say 'clearly' as many are already budded and as this one starts growth early you may want to order them as quickly as possible. Growth in a pot of well-drained, leafy soil under cool glass may be best, they grow early and can be nipped by frost outside.

Arisaema omeienseariomeome	£12.50
Flowering sized but naturally small. Large view

Arisaema onoticum

Hardly known or seen since it was described by Buchet in 1911. This is one of only a handful of species that have their leaves glabrous on both sides. The leaves are serrated at the edges. The flowers are borne inside spathes which are very straight, almost vertical, and of a deep brown-purple. The mouth of the spathe is very upright, with no "hood" hanging over but it is deeply ruffled and waved all along the margins.

It is far easier to observe the differences than it is to point them out on paper, but this represents yet another interesting and distinctive Chinese species for the garden.

Arisaema onoticumarionoono	£11.50

Arisaema pangii

Superbly mottled and striped shoots, looking like snakeskin, give rise to a rich caramel spathe, broadly lined in white. The interior is brown and white striped, toning to pure white in the centre, around the white candle-wax spadix. The 3-fid leaves appear later and are deep shiny green.

Described by one enthusiast as "one of the most outstandingly beautiful Arisaema that I have ever seen". Originally from 3,500 m,Wolong, Sichuan province where it flowers in June.

Arisaema pangiiaripanpan	£0.00

Arisaema peninsulae

Arisaema peninsulae has strong, mid-green foliage sub-divided into short, broad leaflets. In some forms of this plant the leaves can be lined, zoned or speckled with paler or darker shade of green.

The leaves are held below a short stem with a stout inflorescence of distinctly yellowish green (the colour of a lime in the process of ripening!) which is lined with white. The lid of the spathe is rolled back to reveal a shiny green interior.

The 'lid' of the spathe extends stiffly forward to cover the fat and stout, yellow spadix which has a noticeably expanded end. This is not quite the pestle shape of e.g. sikokianum, but it is more like a very large Bengal match-head.

Easy in the garden and fully hardy here under light woodland conditions, such as it grows in, in its native Japan.Flowers dependably in a well-drained, leafy loam.

Arisaema peninsulaearipenpen	£19.50
Strong flowering sized tubers 3.5-4cm diameter

Arisaema petiolulatum

The so called "stalked cobra lily" derives its name from the stalked leaflets within the three-part leaf (petiolules carry leaflets, petioles carry leaves!) The tuber is very characteristic, like a diminutive version of A. speciosum, although the species is reputed to be related to A. album>. However this, like petiolulatum, is so rare and little seen that it is impossible to be precise.

The elongated spathe is 10-12cm long and is purple veined all over both surfaces with an intricate netting of fine purple and bronze lines, the whole furled around the straight-edged spadix.

New to cultivation, but likely to enjoy light shade, leafy soil and good drainage. In the wild it grows at higher altitudes than many perfectly hardy species such as A. flavum, concinnum and costatum which suggests hardiness in the UK also.

Arisaema petiolulatumaripetpet	£6.50

Arisaema propinquum

One or two, trifid glossy leaves with a stunning tubular flower spathe of purple, infused with green and with strong white stripes along its length.

At the edges of the spathe there is white netting, on a purple background. The spathe is prolonged into a short, hawk-like beak, whilst the purple spadix is elongated and hangs out of the mouth of the spathe.

Hardy here, outside in the garden and coming up reliably each year in a well drained, leafy soil in light shade, growing with other 'woodlanders'.

Arisaema propinquumaripropin	£7.50
Large view

Arisaema rhizomatum

This unusual species has curious, almost creeping, rhizome-like tubers. The spathe is usually a deep purple-brown although it may be paler in some plants. The spathe tip is drawn out into a thread-like appendage. Inside lurks a paler spadix flecked and spotted with red-purple and expanded at the end into a club-shape, covered in fleshy protuberances, like tiny fingers.

This enjoys warmth and is best under at least frost-free glass during winter. If kept warmer, it will behave as an evergreen. Likes shade and moisture when in leaf. A totally different Arisaema.

Arisaema rhizomatumarirhirhi	£11.50

Arisaema rhombiforme

Powerfully striped treacle-brown and white spathes. These are broadly inflated but narrow abruptly to a parallel-sided tube, the base of which is warm brown.

The spadix is slate grey. Very attractive for the superb contrast between the dark striped spathe and the translucent white 'window' stripes, which shine in bright light.

Readily grown and flowered in almost any well-drained garden soil which will grow Arisaema and capable of taking sunshine as well as enjoying half- or dappled shade.

Arisaema rhombiformearirhorho	£8.50
Flowering sized tubers. Large view

Arisaema ringens

Arisaema ringens is very attractive and distinctive species from Japan. It has a brown-striped spathe with a folded mouth, the whole in the shape of a knight's helmet, with a visor of solid brown. The general appearance is a little like the insectivorous Darlingtonia, if you know that plant.

This is very early flowering for the genus, regularly appearing in March-April here. Despite this early flowering A. ringens is a fully hardy and easy species, capable of making large tubers and large clumps given time. The early appearance may suggest lack of hardiness but we have not found this to be the case here, it is fully hardy.

Fertile, humus-rich soil in light, half or dappled shade is excellent, good drainage should be ensured, as with all Arisaema.

Arisaema ringensaririnrin	£18.50
Flowering sized tubers. Large view

Arisaema robustum

The spathe is green, broadly striped white and is long, 5-6cm, with an acuminate tip. There is just one leaf divided into 5 leaflets, each 15cm long by 7cm wide.

It resembles a giant version of Arisaema amurense, although as a garden plant it is very different to that dwarf, early flowering species, reaching a height of 30-50cm and flowering late April to May.

Arisaema robustumarirobrob	£9.00
Large view

Arisaema saxatile

Pure white to pale mint-cream with a much elongated, hanging spadix of yellow. The stunning appearance of this plant is not its sole appeal, as it is also delightfully fragrant (of lemons) - a very rare feature in the genus.

A. saxatile is a small plant but when happy it is clump-forming and readily propagates. It is one of the best of the new introductions. May. Originally from Hubei, China but happy here in Wales in a leafy, humus-rich, well drained soil in half shade or partial sun. Warm, humid conditions seem to suit it well when in growth.

Arisaema saxatilearisaxsax	£12.50
flowering sized tubers Large view

Arisaema serratum

(japonicum of horticulture.)

Deep violet and green, snake-mottled stems with two divided leaves and a large spathe of green, overlaid with purple on the outside and often striped with white internally, the stripes sometimes extending to the exterior of the tube.

The short spadix is deep dark purple (although it can rarely be white!) with a slightly swollen tip.

This is spread in the wild from Korea across Russia and the Japanese Islands. It is thus variable which in turn has led to a myriad of names, but one feature which it always retains is its simple, elegant beauty.

Arisaema serratumariserser	£13.50
not quite flowering size

Arisaema serratum mayebarae

(Arisaema mayebarae)

Arisaema serratum mayebarae is the Japanese expression of the widespread and variable A. serratum, from southern Kyushu. It has been regarded as a species, a subspecies and simply a variety, being submerged and resurrected according to botanical whim.

It is differentiated by flowering far earlier than the normal forms of serratum and by the spathe being much longer. In addition, the inflorescence is of a much deeper, more intense shade than typical serratum. Both the spathe and the spadix are selected from the same Gothic palette, in shades of deep and dark, rich red-purple, violet and near-black. The white striping of the typical form is minimal in mayebarae. The inflorescence opens before the foliage is fully expanded and thus it is highly visible. The divided foliage is borne below the "flowers" anyway.

It is a vigorous plant and can, in a very fertile soil, easily reach 100-120cm. Reports of it reaching 200cm I find a bit too much to believe.

Best out in the garden, in the "light woodland" conditions beloved of many Arisaema. Part shade, in a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil.

Arisaema serratum mayebaraearisermay	£20.00
Large view

Arisaema shihmienense

The foliage on this small species is divided into five to seven, shiny, veined leaflets which sit below a polished, lustrous spathe of milk-chocolate brown.

This has the same “flying-helmet” structure as some of the most attractive Chinese species, but the ear-flaps are smaller, whilst the peak is larger, and upwards-facing, with a thick, (not thread-like), spadix.

This needs a nice, humus or leaf-rich soil in the garden for best results. Moisture retentive but well drained, in light shade. It is quite easy to grow. It has a tuber, not prone to rots, but needs careful positioning as it is naturally quite a small-growing species.

Arisaema shihmienensearishishi	£14.50