Wild Ginger Farm**This is the Plant Reference area of the Wild Ginger Farm website. ** Not all plants listed on this page are available for sale at this time. Please visit our mail order catalog to view currently available plants. Some plants are available exclusively at our retail nursery. |
Aroids Aroids are members of the Araceae family and found mainly in tropical and subtropical habitats, with a few temperate species. One of their most interesting features is their unusual flower structure. What appears to be the flower petal is actually the spathe, a bract that wraps around and often encloses the actual flower spike which is called the spadix. Flower pollination is achieved by attracting flies and other insects, sometimes by scent and even by heat. In some species the spathe or spadix has a long tail or thread-like appendage that presumably also serves to attract pollinators to its flowers. The inflorescence often emerges before or at the same time as the leaves and is sometimes hidden by foliage. Some aroids are adapted to monsoonal climates and have tubers and rhizomes that remain dormant until mid-spring when the plant suddenly appears and grows quite rapidly to its full size. The winter hardiness of these species is still being tested in temperate gardens and a number have been found to withstand winter temperatures much colder than they would encounter in their native habitats. Included in the aroids are plants that are widely used as a food as well as medicinally. |
Photo used with permission
© Amorphophallus nepalensis dormant tuber
entitled Thomsonia napalensis Downloaded from Wikipedia Commons | Voodoo Lily | |
Unusual Himalayan aroid which in spring produces a large, strongly scented, boatshaped, yellow to yellow-green spathe with heavily mottled stem 24-36" tall that emerges before the large 12" leaf stalk with pointed leaflets. Because of the strong flower odor, this is a plant best observed from a distance.
Grow in light shade in fertile, moist, well drained soil or in a container. Deciduous, the tuber may be dug in fall and replanted in the spring if grown in heavy soil or in a cold winter location. It is found in woodlands in the Himalayas from Nepal to Sikkim. Hardy to 10 degrees F. Araceae
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Plantae Asiaticae rariores published in 1830-32 and
| Mouse Plant | |
The flowers of this interesting groundcover look like a mouse scurrying along the ground. It is a low growing plant that spreads by rhizomes and forms a dense colony of green, arrow shaped leaves that appear in late winter and die back by the end of summer. The flowers are produced in spring and are often hidden beneath the foliage. Best grown in partial shade in humus-rich, moist well-drained soil. It is native to the woodlands of Southern Europe. Hardy to 0 degrees F. Araceae. .
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© Arisarum proboscideum
| Dwarf Elephant’s Ear | |
This elephant's ear has emerald green leaves with a striking purple shield in the center and grows to 24” tall. It produces a light yellow-green spathe in summer. Grow in sun to part shade in fertile, moist soil with regular water or as a marginal aquatic during the growing season. Keep drier in winter. Deciduous, emerges early summer. Hardy to 10 degrees F. Araceae Our understanding is that the species C. affinis has a solid green leaf and this form which has purple markings is a variety or form called 'Jenningsii' but there appears to be some debate about its correct name. It is found on moist slopes in the Eastern Himalayas .
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Photo used with permission
Photo used with permission | Black Elephant Ear | |
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| Black Leaf Elephant Ear | |
Deep violet leaves with emerald veins to 36” tall. Grow in sun to part shade in fertile, moist soil with regular water or as a marginal aquatic. Deciduous, emerges early summer. Hardy to 10 degrees F. Araceae
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Photo used with permission
| Hitchhiker Elephant Ear | |
Fragrant yellow flowers in spring are followed by large glossy, heart shaped green leaves on a leafstalk to 12". The common name refers to the fact that the tuber produces 12" shoots in summer that have barbed bulbils that can attach themselves to passerbys and travel some distance before dropping off and growing as a new plant. Grow in sun to part shade in fertile, moist, well drained soil. Deciduous. Hardy to 5 degrees F. Found in the Himalayas in forests as well as growing on mossy rocks and as epiphytes in trees. This species is widespread throughout the Himalayas and SE Asia. Araceae
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Photo used with permission
| Voodoo Lily | |
A late spring to early summer flowering aroid with a striking mottled purple spathe from which a long, thin, greenish-purple spadix emerges. The mottled leaf stalk with a divided leaflet follow and stands up to 3 feet tall. This one stinks when it flowers, but only for a few days. Grow in cool sun to light shade in moist, humus rich, well drained soil. Keep drier in winter. It will die back to the underground tuber in winter and will increase to form a colony if conditions are favorable. The dormant tuber can also be dug and replanted in spring if desired. Hardy to -5 degrees F. Himalayas Araceae | ||
© Sauromatum venosum 
More Aroids
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