Seneca Hill Perennials

Although we continue to offer some of the old standbys here, our interest in arisaemas is heavily focused on developing spectacular selections of Arisaema consanguineum. Not only is this Sino-Himalayan species hardy and adaptable, it exhibits amazing foliar variation. We have already selected and named three, and we have many more under evaluation. It takes years to isolate, bulk up and sell a single clone, but we have a grand time doing it. In the next year or two we hope to start offering our fourth and newest selection, 'Wild Blue Yonder'.

FALL THROUGH EARLY SPRING SHIPPING of ARISAEMAS - PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

All arisaemas will be shipped dormant and bare-root, unless we have potted ones in growth available at the time your plant order is shipped. Note that A. consanguineum can only be shipped dormant: it's always too tall to ship in growth.

The charge for shipping dormant arisaemas separately from plants is $6 for 1-3 tubers and $10 for more than 3 tubers (so any number of arisaema tubers shipped within the US will travel for no more than $10). Our shopping-cart program is not complex enough to handle this, so you must disregard its calculated shipping costs when you order arisaemas; we will calculate the costs at this end when we process the order. If you're still confused, just e-mail us and we'll explain.

Our intention is to send blooming-size tubers, unless otherwise specified. If we have to send some we think may be undersized, we will compensate by adding a small tuber or two.

Arisaema amurense 'Jagged Edge'

An intriguing form of this hardy, dependable species with irregularly jagged edges on each of the five leaflets. Darrell Probst collected this on Mt. Sorak (Soraksan) in South Korea in 1997, from a colony of 50-100 jagged-edged plants, and has been distributing it for several years. In the wild the plant was truly diminutive (to 10cm/4in tall), but in containers and our garden it is closer to 30cm/1ft. We thank Darrell for sharing his stock with us. These blooming-size tubers are small by nature.

Arisaema candidissimum

One of the most popular arisaema species, and deservedly so, with an elegant white, pink and green spathe, a sweet primrose fragrance, and an easy-going disposition. Plant it where it will get a few hours of direct sun each day. The large tripartite leaves unfurl after the inflorescence develops (here, in late June to early July). Excellent interplanted with hardy cyclamen, which emerge as this species goes dormant (and vice versa). Young blooming-size tubers, 1.5"-2" in diameter.

Arisaema consanguineum 'Poseidon'

'Poseidon', introduced by us in fall 2004, is a massive plant, with umbrella-like leaves made up of numerous leaflets (roughly 14, but variable). The base color of the leaflet is a steely blue-green, the silver center is pronounced, and the leaf edges are crimped and waved. Everything about this one is big (even the seeds are twice normal size) leading us to wonder about tetraploidy. The sea god should be proud to lend it his name. Tuber size: 1" to 2" in diameter.

Arisaema consanguineum 'Siren's Song'

'Siren's Song', our most recently introduced A. consanguineum, is every bit the seductress, with huge umbrellas of wide, undulating deep bright green leaflets with high-contrast silver centers, held aloft by distinctly reddish stems. Being a bit top-heavy, the plants do tend to slouch, so either stake them before they do or love them as they are. Tuber size: 1" to 2" in diameter.

Arisaema consanguineum 'The Perfect Wave'

In this, our first named selection of A. consanguineum, the base color of the leaflet is a glaucous blue-gray, the leaflet center is brushed with silver, and the leaflet edges undulate seductively. We find that it looks bluer in light shade than in sun, so experiment with planting locations to see where it looks best for you. This clone offsets freely, so you'll soon have lots to play with. Tuber size: 1" to 1.5" in diameter.

Arisaema fargesii

An imposing arisaema with immense tropical-looking tripartite leaves (single leaflets have measured over 50cm/20in long) and a large, dramatically flared inflorescence, deep maroon with stark white striping inside and out. Very late to emerge: July, in Oswego. Our clone offsets freely and soon forms substantial clumps in garden conditions. Tubers are 1.75"-2" in diameter and will bloom either this year or next.

Arisaema flavum subsp. abbreviatum coll. Garhwal Himal, India

This form was collected by Mojmir Pavelka (Euroseeds) at 3200m on Garhwal Himal in India, and has brown and yellow flowers and, reportedly, diminutive stature. These reached young blooming size here this year, and they are in fact very small, but one must allow for the possibility that they will get taller with time. We hope they won't, though.

Arisaema flavum subsp. tibeticum

A distinctive subspecies of A. flavum, found in Tibet at altitudes of up to 4000m/13,000ft in dry, sunny locations. We find it easy in our rock garden, where the soil is free-draining though rarely dry. Far more ornamental than the common A. flavum subsp. abbreviatum, its relatively large bright yellow inflorescence stands well above the pedate foliage. The spathe is held horizontally, so that a blooming clump appears to be studded with little yellow flags waving in the wind.

Arisaema franchetianum coll. Yunnan

A handsome species, closely related to both A. candidissimum and A. fargesii. The spathe, with its long drip tip, is beautifully striped in maroon and white; the tripartite leaves have a matte finish, and the plant likes a fairly exposed position in the garden, with at least a half day of sun. These are propagated from a collection made in Yunnan in 1996.

Arisaema heterophyllum

An easy and delightful species, similar in appearance and habitat preference to the American A. dracontium, but with the inflorescence held above the foliage, and the spadix-appendix more dramatically upthrust. Like A.dracontium, it has an elegant pedate leaf; this must be one of the world’s most aesthetically satisfying leaf forms. Small tubers, 1/2-3/4in diameter.

Arisaema tortuosum

A Himalayan species of considerable stature (to 1.8m in gardens, but larger in the wild) with handsome pedate leaves and a twisted spadix that protrudes upwards from the greenish spathe and ends in an erect, whip-like appendage. The giant depicted in our photos (the parent of the plants we offer) has been this big for four years running, so we know the tuber is bulking up nicely each year. Plant these among bushy lower-growing plants, so they can pop up above their companions and surprise you. They occupy very little ground-space; their entire performance is airborne.

Arisaema triphyllum, Mrs. French's Veined Form

These are vegetatively propagated from stock from John Gwynne, who got it from Dr. Nick Nickou, who found it in Mrs. French's garden years ago. We now have the whole story, straight from Dr. Nickou, and it's not quite what we thought. Mrs. French gave Dr. Nickou seeds, not tubers, and he passed out more than one seedling, so technically this is a seed strain, not a clone, even if all of ours are identical. In any case....this is a selection where the leaf veins are pale greenish-white, so that the whole leaf is covered in a fine visible network - very distinctive and attractive, and a high proportion of the seedlings will retain the pale veining. The spathes are green and white striped.

Arisaema triphyllum, unusual form

We've had this plant around for many years, and have, unfortunately, no idea where we got it. It has a distinctive and beautiful inflorescence, with large and widely flared auricles (so it's very broad across the top of the spathe), solid deep maroon coloration inside the upper part of the spathe, and contrasting stripes below. These tubers are either young blooming size or one year shy of blooming.