Dead Horse Arum
James Waddick (Wed, 11 May 2011 20:40:22 PDT)

Dear PBSers,

Today my Dead Horse Arum started to bloom out doors on a
sunny west facing slope. Helicodiceros muscivorous is a Mediterranean
native that for all intents should not be hardy in my climate. See
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/…

I have grown and bloomed it in a large pot, kept frost free
for years. It makes a lot of extra tubers many of them shared here.
About 5 years ago I planted one in the garden as described above and
it survived. It has continued to survive and get bigger. This past
winter we got to -12 F and had many days below freezing.

This is its first bloom outdoors and on the first day the
smell is indeed 'vivid' comparing to its name sake. The last couple
of years I have moved a few more tubers to the garden and all of them
have survived. Perhaps I have an extra hardy strain, but I suspect it
is far more tolerant that many might suggest.

Not for the faint of heart or for mass planting near the
house. Mine is a couple hundred feet from my back door and 'safe'.

Jiust wanted to share this unusual bloom for my climate.
Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +