Arisaema erubescens

 

Arisaema erubescens (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to dappled shade

Flowering period: Late Spring

Soil: Moist, humus rich

Eventual Height: 80cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Araceae

Arisaema erubescens Flower (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Arisaema erubescens is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its glossy dark green leaves are deeply lobed. Its leaflets are elliptic with entire margins, up to 25cm long and 3cm broad.  Its flowers are white/ purple striped spathes and up to 7cm tall. Its red fruit are berries become visible as its spathe withers on female plants. Its roots are tubers which produce a single stalk containing two leaves and a cobra-like flower. This plant goes dormant during the dryer summer months.

Arisaema erubescens Leaf (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Arisaema erubescens, commonly known as Cobra lily or Arisaema, is native to most of China and Nepal. In its native habitat it grows in mixed woodland.

The etymological root of the binomial name Arisaema is derived from ari an ancient name for Arum and aima meaning ‘blood’. Erubescens is derived from the Latin erubesco meaning ‘redden’.

Arisaema erubescens Seed (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

The landscape architect may find Arisaema erubescens useful as an unusual tropical looking plant for lightly shady areas.

Ecologically, Arisaema erubescens flowers are pollinated by flies.

Arisaema erubescens prefers moist, humus rich. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Arisaema erubescens requires little maintenance.

Arisaema ringens

Arisaema ringens (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial shade to full shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, humus rich

Eventual Height: 40cm

Eventual Spread: 30cm

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Araceae

Arisaema ringens is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its glossy dark green leaves are trifoliate. Its leaflets are ovate to elliptic with entire margins, up to 20cm long and 10cm broad.  Its deciduous flowers are green and purple striped spathes with a yellow and white spadix and up to 15cm tall. Its red fruit are berries become visible as its spathe withers on female plants. Its roots are tubers which produce a single stalk containing two leaves and a cobra-like flower. This plant goes dormant during the dryer summer months.

Arisaema ringens Flower (19/04/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Arisaema ringens, commonly known as Cobra lily or Arisaema, is native to east China, Japan and Korea. In its native habitat it grows in woodland at low altitude.

The etymological root of the binomial name Arisaema is derived from ari an ancient name for Arum and aima meaning ‘blood’. Ringens is derived from the Latin ringa meaning ‘ring’ or ‘ hoop’.

The landscape architect may find Arisaema ringens useful as an unusual tropical looking plant for shady areas.

Arisaema ringens Leaf (07/06/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Arisaema ringens flowers are pollinated by flies.

Arisaema ringens prefers moist, humus rich. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes dry soils and clayey soils. It will tolerate wet soils.

Arisaema ringens requires little maintenance.