... two aroid notes -Dracunculus.
James Waddick (Thu, 26 May 2011 03:43:41 PDT)
the Sauromatum are blooming, too, and their stealth stench is
making itself evident here and there in the garden. I grow a lot of
various aroids, and it intrigues me that they each seem to have
their own brand of stink.
Dear PBSers and all,
A few weeks ago we had a couple discussions of the
'uber-stinky' Helicodiceros or Dead Horse Arum, now another smelly
addition and another due soon. Although I grow Sauromatum venosum, it
is not very hardy for me although others nearby grow it in the ground
with some certainty. Numerous times I'd forget that there was a tuber
in a pot stored in the garage, then wonder come spring what 'died'
only to find the offending bulb in flower and move it outside.
At least half a dozen spathes have emerged in various clumps
of Dracunculus vulgaris. These amaze me at their hardiness coming
from quite Mediterranean homes they do very nicely from seed or as
moved tubers. The spathe is a huge blood red/brown color with a
darker long spadix well illustrated at
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/…
Although the plant can reach to almost 6 ft, it is closer to
3 ft in my garden. Foliage varies from all green to bearing
silvery-white 'chevrons' (all shown on the wiki). I expect to smell
the open flowers before I see them in the next week or two.
This is a plant I'd recommend both for its inherent beauty
and the special nature of its bloom for a couple days in mid-spring.
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 +