Tropaeolum azureum et al.
Jane McGary (Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:16:30 PST)
Jim wrote (excerpted),
My Arum pictum
(from Jane) is progressing nicely, but I don’t expect it to survive in the
open garden here.
Until this year I’ve grown Notholirion thomsonianum in a pot. This year it’s
in the ground (still in the protected cold frame), its roots free to wander.
It looks bigger and lustier this year it would be nice to see it in bloom.
Arum pictum (not to be confused with Arum
italicum 'Pictum') turns out to be hardier than
the books say. Some small ones in a well-drained
spot in my garden survived well last winter,
including 17 degrees F and a couple of weeks under heavy snow while in leaf.
Notholirion thomsonianum does best if given a
fairly unrestricted root run, so I grow it in a
mesh bin plunged in the sand in the frame, and
also in a sandy, rocky bed in the open garden. It
blooms in both places. I haven't looked at the
leaves of the exposed ones since we had 12
degrees F here last week, but in any case the
small bulblets will probably survive. The trick
to getting it to bloom is to ensure a dry summer
dormancy, which would be difficult for Jim on the Atlantic coast.
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA