Lysichiton

[WimB]

A friend of mine received some seeds from a lysichiton (from her description I believe it to be a cross between americanus and camtschatcensis) and she wondered how she should sow it.
I've got no experience with this genus at all but maybe somebody here knows what's the best way to sow it?

[Paddy Tobin]

Wim,

I have several plants of L. americanus growing in a wet area of the garden, an open drain where rain water runs, so it is generally wet though it can be dry in summer.

In this situation L. americanus seeds itself freely, germinating in the spring following the winter wet when this area would have been permanently wet and even regularly under water.  I suggest then that your friend sows the seed into a permanently wet compost, perhaps a pot sitting in a saucer of water or the pot could be placed into the shallow edge of a pond.

I grow L. camtschatcensis in the same area and it doesn't flower as reliably and has not self-seeded to date.

L. americanus is one of those plants which people admire greatly but if planted into a wet area it can become too successful.

Best wishes to your friend's germination efforts.

Paddy

[ian mcenery]

Wim I agree with Paddy moist if not boggy. My americanum is growing in the pond margin in a few inches of soil over concrete and self seeds here. It has also self seeded in drier areas where I had to weed it out

[WimB]

Paddy & Ian, Thanks

[Rodger Whitlock]

L. americanus is one of those plants which people admire greatly but if planted into a wet area it can become too successful.

Try digging one up! They like to grow in mud, deep mud, and the one time I tried, in a shallow stream bed, I had no success. The growing point and feeder roots must have been feet below the surface.

[Maggi Young]

L. americanus is one of those plants which people admire greatly but if planted into a wet area it can become too successful.

Try digging one up! They like to grow in mud, deep mud, and the one time I tried, in a shallow stream bed, I had no success. The growing point and feeder roots must have been feet below the surface.

Sounds like a nessy interlude, Rodger, but illustrates the plant's survival mechanism well: if you're going to grow in or beside water, you will need a good strong anchor to keep yourself in place in times of flood..... seems the skunk cabbage has that trick off pat!

[Paddy Tobin]

Rodger,

I think I'll leave them alone. I am happy to leave them grow where they are and any stray seedlings can be taken out at the small stage. They make a great plant, excellent flowers and striking foliage afterwards.

Paddy