Tag Archive for: Growing Arisaema from seeds

Arisaema amurense-dark form seeds are in stock. What other better occasion to talk a bit about it? Truth is, I had this post half prepared since last year, so it came in handy.

Arisaema amurense is a cold hardy species with a large geographically distribution on the East coast of Asia: China North-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Khabarovsk, Korea, Manchuria, Primorye and Sakhalin. (https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:85565-1)

Just like our native Jack in the pulpit, it comes in a wide range of forms regarding the height, spathe color and leaf size.
Mature, flowering plants have leaves with 5 folioles and usually the flowers are green striped with white; seeds of this form were offered a few years ago.

The inside of the flowers can also be brownish green or purple green with white stripes. Usually they are held on short stalks below or among the foliage.

The mother-plant of this form was grown from ORG&HP seedex, and the seeds were donated under the name of A. triphyllum ssp. quinatum (which anyway is tender and can’t be grown in our zone 5-6 climate). Most probably that it still goes in various garden circles under the wrong name.

The seedlings first develop a leaf with only 3 folioles, sometimes even the 2 years old plants. A flowering size mature plant has the typical 5-foliolate leaf, which you can see in the picture below. It is quite different than A. triphyllum ssp. quinatum: the folioles are broadly ovate in shape and can be slightly serrated on the margins.

Arisaema amurense leaf. In our climate, Arisaema amurense is the first Arisaema species to emerge from the ground, even earlier than our native Jack in the pulpit. This is a very cold hardy species, so if you are looking to expand your Arisaema garden ‘repertoire’ do not be afraid to give it a try.

The fruits on my plant develop an orange color at maturity, as opposed with A. triphyllum which turns deep, shiny red but maybe it cannot be generalized. I have a plate showing the differences in fruit color: Arisaema triphyllum, Arisaema amurense and Arisaema flavum (another hardy species, easy to grow from seeds). The seeds are similar, size and shape wise.

Arisaema amurense is very easy to grow from seeds. The seeds germinate at room temperature, so it can be started indoors in early spring or outdoors in late spring.
10-15 seeds are quite perfect for sowing a 3-4 inch pot in which to leave the seedlings grow for at least 2 years before planting the tubers in the ground. Arisaema seedlings do not need pricking out, reason why always sow the seeds in a slightly larger pot in which to have room to grow for 2-3 years (or transfer the little tubers when dormant in a new pot).

As garden companions use various species that also enjoy a part-shaded location, in a rich garden soil: Saruma henryi, Hydrastis canadensis, Aristolochia, Glaucidium palmatum, Epimedium, Helleborus, Podophyllum, Hepatica, Brunnera….to mention just a few.

It might start forming a colony if it likes the place but sharing Arisaema tubers with other Arisaema enthusiasts is always fun to do!

Towards the end of June it was not only very dry, but also super hot, much to the dislike of quite a few species. Others, which by their nature enjoy such conditions, were not bothered at all (Salvia daghestanica, Veronica oltensis in the featured image). Also, Centaurea jankae, the subject of a plant portrait a little while ago, flowered non-stop from June until late fall.

So, we will retreat on the part-shaded sides of the garden to have a look at a few Arisaemas, Roscoea and companion plants.

Arisaema flavum is one of the most easy to grow species, and while not an overly showy species, it will become a ‘fixture’ of the garden; something that you can always count on to be there, quietly doing its thing. Arisaema candidissimum also flowered well. After it was tried in a container for a few years it was planted in the ground (in two locations). Why bother with containers? Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense made a short apparition and in protest to the weather went dormant sooner than usual.

Newly in ‘town’ in 2022 was the Eastern NA native Arisaema dracontium, the green dragon. This is a threatened or vulnerable species in many regions of Eastern USA, and a rare sight in Eastern Canada (I have never encounter it).
The bad thing is that some people confuse it with Pinellia pedatisecta (a Chinese species), and worst of all, tubers of the latter are exchanged between gardeners as such. Many Pinellia species have a ‘weedy’ tendency.

It is not hard to distinguish them when in flower – see explanations; there are other more subtle differences (also for fruits/seeds), but the main idea is: do not share tubers unless you are sure what species you have!

Speaking of native species suitable for part-shade, the not often grown, Triosteum aurantiacum, the horse gentian, flowered and even produced a few fruits! In a shaded, overcrowded corner, Vancouveria hexandra always competes for space with Viola canadensis and others.

The more exotic Roscoea cautleyoides also starts flowering in late June. Similar to most Arisaemas, it emerges late from the ground, and thus it needs careful positioning close to more early growing species. Due to the high temperatures, the flowers were short lived, despite being part-shaded; otherwise they are not difficult to grow.

I wanted to also show by comparison the Jeffersonia species capsules & seeds, which both mature in June but this post it’s getting to long. Until the next one…

If for some reason there is someone who doesn’t have at least one Arisaema in the garden, then there is Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense to consider.

Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense is my longest lived Arisaema in the ground, and I’m in love with it. I was a bit in doubt if liubaense until I had to move it and sow the stoloniferous tubers (one difference from A. ciliatum).

It shows up late, somewhere in mid-June and then, in a blink of an eye, purple flowers will peak curiously at you from underneath the umbrella-like leaf. Commonly they are called Cobra lilies but don’t be afraid they are super friendly.

Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense 2019

A nice surprise this year, they showed up in pair and now we have babies :)
It is amazing how fast the fruit matured from green to red in about one week.

Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense fruit

Also to consider: Arisaema amurense, A. flavum and our lovely NA A. triphyllum. All super cold hardy and easy to grow.

All these were raised from seeds and for some I’ve waited 4 years to flower; a little show off should be understandable  :)

I also have A. triphyllum seedlings but non-flowering this year; together with A. ciliatum and A. flavum, they are the easiest to grow species (in the ground) and very hardy; good for a cold climate.

The first Arisaema of the season – in love all over again… 

Arisaema fargesii seedling