Lysichiton

[Hoy]

I grow two different species of Skunk Cabbage. The yellow L. americanus, Western skunk Cabbage and the white L. camtschatcensis, Asian Skunk Cabbage. The latter is the smaller of the pair.
I planted two different clones of Western Skunk Cabbage and they self sow all over my bog. The Asian version have I had only a short time but I hope this one will self sow too. Maybe I get hybrids as the two are known to hybridise.
In summer the leaves of L. americanus grow huge - 1m or more.

[Todd Boland]

The L. camtschatcensis in our BG is just sprouting...I hope it blooms this year!

[Paul T]

Trond,

What conditions do you grow yours in?  Do you have a natural bog area on your property?  I've grown both species in pots for years, but never a flower from them.  I've put the americanum into a laundry sink, sunk into the ground, so that it can get down to a greater depth so that hopefully it might flower.  I have it in sun but I have seen conflicting reports of it wanting sun or shade?

Thanks for any help.  I'd love to flower these one day. 

[Hoy]

Paul, I grow the Lysichitons with other bog plants in a natural bog along a small trickle in my woodland. They have some sun after midday in the spring but later when the trees develop leaves they get little sun but bright shade. Especially the americanum grows into a very huge plant, the leaves are 1m or more tall in the summer

[Paul T]

Thanks Trond.

Mine gets pretty much full sun, more or less.  The leaves are nowhere near that size, but are still pretty large. Thanks for the info on how you're growing them.  Unfortunately no natural bogs and trickling streams in my suburban block.

[Hoy]

They have set out to reach new heights this year!

[deesen]

Saw some very good examples on a recent visit to Wisley.

here are some I saw planted on a streamside on a visit earlier this week to Lanhydrock House and garden in Cornwall.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lanhydrock/

[Paul T]

I'm now happy to report that I finally managed to flower one of these.... Lysichiton camschatcensis flowered for me this spring.  I was very please.  Still hoping for L. americanum to flower one of these years.     I was rather pleased to flower one of them though.

[Jan Jeddeloh]

I got seed of Lysichiton camschatcensis from the NARGS seed exchange this year.  I've planted it and put the pot out in the greenhouse. I could just put it outside and let it get drenched by rain which is probably what it experiences in its native habitat but I'm afraid the slugs will like it. 

So what's been people's experience with germinating seed of this plant?  Any advice?  I haven't told my husband that I'm trying to grow a classy skunk cabbage but I imagine he'll want to have my head examined when he finds out. 

Jan Jeddeloh in Western Oregon where our run of good weather has turned to rain

[Hoy]

I got seed of Lysichiton camschatcensis from the NARGS seed exchange this year.  I've planted it and put the pot out in the greenhouse. I could just put it outside and let it get drenched by rain which is probably what it experiences in its native habitat but I'm afraid the slugs will like it.  

So what's been people's experience with germinating seed of this plant?  Any advice?  I haven't told my husband that I'm trying to grow a classy skunk cabbage but I imagine he'll want to have my head examined when he finds out.  

Jan Jeddeloh in Western Oregon where our run of good weather has turned to rain

I have not needed to sow seeds in pots. I planted two different clones some years ago and get lots of seed every year (want some more   ?) and they germinate around the mother plant in hundreds!

The very first plant I had was completely damaged by slugs but now slugs are never problematic!

   

[Jan Jeddeloh]

Trond, maybe you should take a paintbrush and help hybridization along?  If you get seed of camtschatensis or hybrids this year I'd love some seed.  And I even have a seed import permit so I can do it legally this time.

Jan

[Hoy]

Trond, maybe you should take a paintbrush and help hybridization along?  If you get seed of camtschatensis or hybrids this year I'd love some seed.  And I even have a seed import permit so I can do it legally this time.

Jan

That's an idea! I'll try it if I remember at the right time!

[Hoy]

The yellow ones (americanus) are out now! They always are earlier than the white ones (camtschatcencis).

[cohan]

These are all cool, I'd like to try some here- real species; Are the seeds short-lived?

[Hoy]

These are all cool, I'd like to try some here- real species; Are the seeds short-lived?

I have never tried to store the seeds. When fresh sown (selfsown that is) they germinate 200%! Last year I had collected some seed Cohan, but I forgot to mail them