Like Jim McKenney, I'm a little surprised at the absence of Veratrum from
most gardens, but I think it can be explained by the fact that these are
large-scale plants that go dormant in midsummer, leaving a big gap.
However, this can also be said of Oriental poppies, which we see
everywhere. Also, they are very toxic, and people who read this are always
afraid their children or pets will eat the plants. I can't vouch for the
discrimination of children, but my pets have never poisoned themselves on

plant, and one often sees Veratrum growing in pastures, where the cattle,
horses, etc., do not touch it.

There are two species native to my area, V. californicum at lower
elevations and V. viride at high elevations. V. calif. has cream-colored
flowers and is a very large plant; V. vir. has green flowers and is a bit
shorter, though still stately.

I have V. calif. in the garden, having collected the seeds from a nearby
roadside and direct-sown them in rich woodland soil in an area that's
irrigated in summer (they are moisture-lovers). As I recall, they took
almost ten years to flower from seed, but now bloom every year. The scape
can reach 7 feet (>2 m). The rhizome (not a true bulb) is huge, with thick
feeder roots below it, and makes some offsets, gradually spreading into a
colony. Digging one is quite a task. That is probably another reason they
are seldom seen in gardens: the mature rhizome is so large that it

be easy to manage in a nursery container.

These are excellent foliage plants if you have a deep border with

in front to fill in as the veratrums wither, such as hostas and deciduous
ferns. Mine are behind a planting of the native Disporum smithii. They

well in sun or shade but flower best in sun.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon. USA

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