Aroid is the common name for members of the Araceae family, also known as the Philodendron or Arum family. The often beautiful and sometimes bizarre combination of “spathe” and “spadix,” known as the inflorescence and sometimes referred to as a “flower,” is a discernible characteristic of all aroids. A glance at the photos here is enough to explain the urge to start collecting Arisaema species.

On this page about aroids at OpdeHaar, you will find information about:

• Arisaema sikokianum
• Arisaema speciosum “Himalayan Giant”
• Andere interessante arisaema
• Sauromatum nubicum
• Sauromatum venosum ofwel Sauromatum guttatum
• Arisarum proboscideum (mouse plant)
• Colocasia esculenta Pink China
• Lysichiton americanus
• Lysichiton camtschatcensis
• Internet sites over Aroids

For other woodland and shadow tolerant plants Click here

“Jan in the pulpit” or Arisaema sikokianum is an aroid. The flowering period is April – May.

A glance at the few photos here is enough to explain the urge to start collecting Arisaema species. Moreover, you are starting to find them at nurseries more and more often. Eye-catchers like A. sikokianum are certainly not cheap! Over the last few years in our garden, I have focused my attention more on somewhat larger specimens. That is to say, plants with large leaves that can, preferably, overwinter in the open ground. Here are a few notes.

Another example of a large aroid native to the central and eastern Himalayan region is Arisaema speciosum “Himalayan Giant” (also “Magnificum”). It survived the winters very well, including 2008/09. The literature suggests that it might not be winter hardy. However, my specimens are in a somewhat sheltered and lightly shaded spot close to the house on the south side and receive a layer of leaves as winter protection.

Arisaema speciosum Himalayan Giant (magnificum) bladeren in mei Arisaema speciosum Himalyan Giant (Magnificum) bloem in mei Arisaema speciosum Himalyan Giant bladeren in mei Arisaema speciosum Himalyan Giant Magnificum zaaddoos in oktober Arisaema speciosum zaden in Oktober

The plants emerge from the ground early in spring and produce a spectacular flower. In the image, you can see how a kind of rope-like growth on the calyx gives the English name “Whiplash” to this Arisaema group. Furthermore, the beautiful patterns on the leaf stalk and the leaf shape are clearly recognizable. The seed pod emerges from the stem in the autumn, and I cut it off before the frost or certainly in November. I have stored it in the garage where it ripens to an orange-red color. From February onwards, the seed husks begin to feel somewhat soft. You can easily clean them in a sieve under the tap. In the image, you can see seed that was “washed” in early April, and it was already germinating!

Other interesting aroids are: Arisaema candidissimum, Arisaema costatum, Arisaema erubescens, Arisaema fargesii, Arisaema galeatum, Ariseama griffithi, Ariaema nepenthoides, Arisaema ringens, Ariasaema sikokianum, Arisaema speciosum Mirabele en Arisaema thunbergii.

Arisaema candidissimum Arisaema candidissimum Arisaema costatum Arisaema costatum Arisaema erubescens Arisaema erubescens Arisaema fargesi Arisaema fargesii Arisaema galeatum Arisaema Griffithi Arisaema nepenthoides Arisaema nepenthoides Arisaema ringens Arisaema ringens Arisaema ringens Arisaema sikokianum Arisaema sikokianum Arisaema sikokianum Arisaema speciosum Mirabile Arisaema thunbergii Arisaema thunbergii

The winter of 2008/09 ended with a very cold spell, making it the first “normal” winter in several years. In our tropical bed, I have two large clumps of Sauromatum (Typhonium) nubicum standing unprotected in an open area that is, incidentally, dry and well-drained. Nevertheless, it can cool down considerably there at night under a clear sky. My plants emerged on schedule in mid-March, without visible damage. They already had their stinking calyxes ready for garden visitors early in May and subsequently began forming their clumps, which are about 1 m high. Furthermore, they are in full sun and can become almost bone-dry during dry periods. These are, of course, conditions that are fatal to many Arisaema species, which are often woodland plants.

As mentioned, S. nubicum forms clumps up to well over 1 meter tall, like a type of hosta on growth hormones. It is particularly nice that it is easy to grow from seed, provided you do not miss the black-colored seed pod that emerges from the ground after the leaves have died back. I clean the seed by washing the calyx in a sieve under the tap and then immediately sow it in a tray. Germination in the spring is virtually 100% and easy (in the greenhouse). I have since planted plants from 2008 in various locations throughout the wood to see how they develop in different environments – or not!

My original 2 plants came from De Groene Toko in Beesd, who discovered it in a shipment a few years earlier, as described on their website. It originates from the cool parts of the Himalayas. As for the Dutch gardener, it is a spectacular foliage plant that can withstand sun and drought and is easy to propagate.

Slightly smaller than Arisaema speciosum is Sauromatum venosum, also known as Sauromatum guttatum. It occurs in the tropical or subtropical parts of South Asia, Africa, and Arabia. I planted 5 tubers near A. speciosum, fully convinced that I would very likely lose them. The local moles are also doing their best to destroy them. A run goes straight through the area where their root systems are likely to be. Occasionally, I lose a stem too!

Despite ominous literature and the moles, my Sauromatum venosums are still there, and they produce seed in a manner similar to S. nubicum. In their case, red seed pods emerge from the ground. This is also easy to propagate. Winter hardy or not, a potential disadvantage of S. venosum is that it appears very late—until mid-June is normal for me. To be honest, it didn’t make a big impression on me either, except that my specimens turned out to be reasonably winter-hardy, somewhat contradicting what I read in the literature.

This little oddity occurs in the wild in Italy and Spain. At first glance, one sees only a layer of arum-like leaves. Over the years, the leaves slowly spread out over the ground during the spring. Watch them disappear in the summer. Only when you lift a leaf and see the flower does the reason for the plant’s name become clear.

While Colocasia esculenta, or “taro,” has been an important food source in warmer regions of the world for millennia, its graceful leaves also have decorative value for the garden. Over the years, hybrids with a range of leaf colors and patterns have appeared. The designation “Elephant Ear” describes the leaf very well. For a more detailed explanation, however, I recommend an American site from the famous Plant Delights Nursery:http://www.plantdelights.com/Article/Colocasia-Elephant-Ears.

Colocasia esculenta Pink China gaat zich door middel van bovengrondse roze uitlopers verspreiden Colocasia esculenta Pink China Colocasia esculenta Pink China

In 1991, a C. esculenta variant was found in the mountains of Yunnan, China, in an area remarkably cooler than normal for this Colocasia species. This plant was introduced to the US by Brian Williams under the name Colocasia esculenta “Pink China”.

Colocasia esculenta “Pink China” available in the Netherlands

“Pink China” is now available in the Netherlands, and I found it in 2012 at Hans Prins’s (De Groene Prins Nursery). To give an idea of its hardiness, Hans had forgotten a plant in his garden. It survived the extremely cold week of -18 degrees in early 2013. While the literature remains somewhat cautious on this subject, if you can guide plants like Musa basjoo and Melianthus major through an outdoor winter, it seems that “Pink China” deserves a place in your garden. For absolute certainty, it is advisable to provide the root with some extra protection during the winter with a layer of dry leaves or mulch.

“Pink China” requires consistently moist soil and good nutrition, and also does well in light shade, as the photo indicates (August 2014). Above ground, it dies back in winter but quickly forms a clump of leaves about 120 cm high early in the summer. The pink stems are a distinct characteristic. However, I have the impression that this color fades somewhat as the shade increases.

This aroid spreads by means of above-ground pink runners; therefore, it is easy to limit any tendency to spread by cutting off these runners. Otherwise, a bit like strawberry runners, you can propagate “Pink China” relatively easily. If the plant is kept too dry, the edges of the leaves quickly turn brown. Inflorescences (“flowers”) are light yellow, inconspicuous, and are often hidden from view by the leaves. The greatest secret remains feeding the plant well. We are also working on further testing the tolerance to shade and, who knows, perhaps in due course we can consider “Pink China” as a complement to other large-leaved plants such as Hosta “Empress Wu”.

Colocasia are often found as marsh plants in the pond section of garden centers, and “Pink China” can also grow with its roots in water. In winter, to be on the safe side, you should dig up the plant and store it in a frost-free place. (Incidentally, you can also do this with plants in the open ground. Around the end of November, cut off the leaves and dig up the root. Store it in a pot in a cool, not-quite-dry place until mid-March or after the danger of prolonged frost has passed. If you are willing to take this trouble anyway, you can also start planting other Colocasia species). Whether “Pink China” can overwinter somewhat deeper underwater in milder coastal areas – just like Zantedeshia aethiopica – might be worth a try for those interested.

Finally, and for the sake of completeness, there is another Colocasia species that is said to be reasonably winter-hardy as well – Colocasia gaoligongensis from China. Aroid specialist Ben Candlin in England (mail order, prior to Brexit!) has the plant in his assortment and writes about it on his website. Ben sent a specimen, and it spreads via underground runners. It turns out to be at least as hardy as “Pink China“—one plant developed particularly well at Hans Prins’s, where it overwintered outdoors (Steenwijkerwold).

“Swamp cabbage” or Lysichiton americanus is an aroid that grows in wet areas along the west coast of the US as far as Alaska. However, “Skunk cabbage” in America better describes the indole-infused scent produced in the spring to attract pollinating insects. It is adorned with large yellow bracts in early spring. The bracts are followed by 1-meter-long, dark green leaves that feature some dark markings on the underside. The leaves die back in the autumn. Plants require a moist spot and preferably not too much shade. They are readily available in garden centers. It was first introduced in England around 1901 and has since spread throughout Europe where possible via seed, sometimes becoming too widespread.

The Asian species, Lysichiton camtschatcensis, is a somewhat less robust plant with white bracts and leaves that are uniformly green; the plant is virtually odorless! It occurs along the coast as far north as the Japanese islands. However, it is separated from its American counterpart by the Bering Strait. You can speculate that both Lysichiton species originate from the same ancestor, as they form hybrids with each other. Incidentally, L. camtschatcensis is also readily available.

As for the hybrids, they are generally difficult to distinguish from the species. However, having said that, it appears that through careful selection, so-called Lysichiton x hortensis varieties have been produced that are both decorative and sterile—thus preventing unwanted seed propagation. For example, there is mention on the Internet by the well-known Beth Chatto nursery in England. However, I have not yet heard anything from our local area. The Beth Chatto Lysichiton x hortensis has a large white bract and is sterile.

• • The following links are a good start for enthusiasts:
  • http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/ArisaemaSpeciesFour
  • www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/
  • www.hessenhof.nl

For those who truly wish to conduct an in-depth study, there is Guy and Liliane Gusman’s book “The Genus Arisaema”. The book is published by Timber Press, ISBN 3-904144-91-X. Also from Timber Press is Deni Bown’s “Aroids – plants of the arum family,” ISBN 0-88192-485-7. This provides a very educational and readable overview of the subject. Would you like to start a somewhat more varied collection of “tubers” yourself? Many different Arisaema species are available through René Zijerveld of the firm Dix en Zijerveld in Hillegom. This is actually a wholesaler, but René can be found at various events.

Back to the top