Arum, Asarum, & Cyclamen

[BeyondTheGarden]

Picked these up from Plant Delights.  There are some Arum, Asarum, and Cyclamen that don't look exotic but there are others that look quite wild.  I'm quite new to them and would like to get input on different species or types that folks here may be growing or familiar with.  

I've seen people talk about Aristolochia but I don't know anything about it; I believe there are some very exotic types as well. 

Asarum nobilissimum "king kong" 

Arum concinatum "far and away"

 

Cyclamen hederifolium "crassifolium" 

And here's a random picture that popped up on my FB today; this looks wild and I would love to figure out how to reproduce something like this.  Arum creticum and Cyclamen coum. 

[Silas_Sancona]

36 minutes ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

I've seen people talk about Aristolochia but I don't know anything about it; I believe there are some very exotic types as well. 

 

Since you're dabbling in Asarum, imagine you'd probably enjoy these " weirdo " exotics as well.. One of my favorite obscure plant groups for sure..  Some are vines / others ground cover-y " crawlers "..  Some of the more exotic looking, Vine types, esp those with big flowers, might be tender there,  but you may be able to overwinter a few..  Ground crawling types can be hardy or tender, depending on origin.. ..We even have 2-4 sps that grow here / east of here in New Mexico / TX that laugh at drought, extreme heat ..or cold..  All Aristolochia are host plant for Pipevine Swallowtails, even those native to Mexico/ South America.

Leaves on some stink, simply put, as do the flowers of a few. Our native sps have no detectable scent, unless you're a certain type of fly that pollinates them.

Interest in Asarum and Pipevines based on the weird flowers / interesting foliage?  Might research the various, mainly vining Genera directly related to Milkweeds ( Cynanchum, Funastrum, Matelea, etc  )  Some are kind of average ( Some of the Funastrum ), others, flowers at least, are wildly weird looking ( Cynanchum, Gonolobus, Matelea, others ). 
 
For " unexpectedly exotic " accents, If you haven't already, might check out the " Hardy Orchids " Plant Delights offers also.

[Than]

Cyclamens must be some of the easiest plants; they are everywhere in the wild in my area and they withstand freezes and scorching heat. They seem to love growing between stones, with just a minimum amount of dirt. In one of my last treks I noticed some wild ones with very big leaves, like the ones sold in nurseries. 

Edited January 13, 2024 by Than

[Rivera]

These are not the most ornamental of the genus, but we're growing native Asarum caudatum in a couple of spots. Nice flowers in spring, kind of like less showy little Brassia orchids for lack of a better comparison, though they can go unnoticed as they don't rise above the rest of the foliage much.

When I started planting our garden I mostly selected coastal scrub natives mixed with common xeric plants. When I brought in some moisture-appreciating exotics like palms and tree ferns, I saw an opportunity to bring in natives I had originally passed over (that favor some shade, summer water, and more humus rich soil). 

Also growing Aristolochia californica, but it really isn't much to look at right now. Doesn't do much in the winter here but grows vigorously in spring. I've never seen a pipevine swallowtail here, but perhaps they will come.

[BeyondTheGarden]

Looks good @Rivera, is that a Dicksonia above it there? 

I really like integrating natives and exotics plants together.  Most people don't know there are native plants that look exotic.  I find myself discovering exotic natives often. 

[Calosphace]

I don't grow the others, though I have seen some beautiful Asarum nobilissimum specimen and Cyclamen in Kanapha Gardens in Gainesville FL (didn't realize we could grow them here!), but I do grow Aristolochia. Many are called pipevines and there is a stunning swallowtail that feeds on them that should be in your area, the Pipevine swallowtail.

However, the vast majority of exotic Aristolochia are poisonous traps that kill this butterfly which is why in many areas in Florida it is now basically gone since several exotics are commonly planted here. Aristlochia macrophylla and Aristolochia tomentosa are two species native to your area that should grow quite well for you and the former looks tropical in appearance with its large leaves that would be attractive to this species. They're like Gulf frits and Zebra longwings too in that they stick around where there hosts are

One exotic that is safe for it is Aristolochia trilobata, to me it is a much more interesting species visually anyway since it has ivy-like leaves. I have it growing on my standardized tallish elderberry tree and another started on my oak (going for the ivy look). It still has quite interesting flowers too. They are easy to propagate by airlayering, I get them in about 2 weeks no hormone outside during summer. I am not sure the hardiness of the species but I think it is more than people say as my plant was evergreen through 25 F, though admittedly it had some protection via the bare elderberry canopy rather than total exposure.

There are some non-vining species too. Aristlochia fimbriata is probably the most common and is also safe for this butterfly. I believe Plant Delights grows it as it is surprisingly hardy and it has a attractive white veining so it could be incorporated in that foliage look

 

[Rivera]

38 minutes ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

Looks good @Rivera, is that a Dicksonia above it there? 

I really like integrating natives and exotics plants together.  Most people don't know there are native plants that look exotic.  I find myself discovering exotic natives often. 

Agreed, there are always natives not to be passed over!

Yes, that Asarum sits below Dicksonia antarctica and Chamaedorea plumosa. The canopy will lift a bit in a few years and reveal some of what's beneath, ha. The Dicksonia actually grows at a decent speed here.

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Rivera said:

These are not the most ornamental of the genus, but we're growing native Asarum caudatum in a couple of spots. Nice flowers in spring, kind of like less showy little Brassia orchids for lack of a better comparison, though they can go unnoticed as they don't rise above the rest of the foliage much.

When I started planting our garden I mostly selected coastal scrub natives mixed with common xeric plants. When I brought in some moisture-appreciating exotics like palms and tree ferns, I saw an opportunity to bring in natives I had originally passed over (that favor some shade, summer water, and more humus rich soil). 

Also growing Aristolochia californica, but it really isn't much to look at right now. Doesn't do much in the winter here but grows vigorously in spring. I've never seen a pipevine swallowtail here, but perhaps they will come.

 Think it's just a matter of time until you start seeing them..  Seems they're a fairly common sight in / around San Francisco.


 

29 minutes ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

Looks good @Rivera, is that a Dicksonia above it there? 

I really like integrating natives and exotics plants together.  Most people don't know there are native plants that look exotic.  I find myself discovering exotic natives often. 

Same story, even in the lower desert..  even one that literally is considered tropical in origin..   Majority of folks here assume Cacti / Yucca / and Agave are about as " exotic " as it gets for interesting native stuff..    Not even close.. A dozen -or more- " Desert " Ferns anyone??   ...Just have to know where to look < for seed > / who to purchase from.

  Expand your " plant options view " by another 250 - 600 miles to the south ( 600 Mi. = Roughly the distance between Rockport, on the Mendo. Coast, to the port of entry in T.J. / San Diego )  and, ..You've got plenty of stuff to consider,  95% of which will do fine here if sited correctly / might require only occasional, extra care at times. 

Not all that long ago, in non - human timescales,  northern limit for a fair majority of the native stuff you see in the deserts here currently,  was somewhere 150 -300 miles to the south.

[BeyondTheGarden]

14 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Same story, even in the lower desert..  even one that literally is considered tropical in origin..   Majority of folks here assume Cacti / Yucca / and Agave are about as " exotic " as it gets for interesting native stuff..    Not even close.. A dozen -or more- " Desert " Ferns anyone??   ...Just have to know where to look < for seed > / who to purchase from.

I remember a star-shaped desert fern you had posted here... I couldn't find it only anywhere... now I can't even remember it's name. 

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, BeyondTheGarden said:

I remember a star-shaped desert fern you had posted here... I couldn't find it only anywhere... now I can't even remember it's name. 

There's a couple i've gotten my eyes on..

Star Cloak, Notholaena standleyi  is the species of " star shaped " ferns i've encountered the most often,  over a wide area..  Besides the native Myriopteris and Astrolepis species here.

Maxon's Goldback Fern, Pentagramma maxonii,  ..a bit less common / more restricted to the foothills.  Apparently a relict  population of it's sister species ( Goldback Fern ) which is much more common in CA, grows in the same area i've walked ..so i could have observed both.  Relict / disjunct population of Maxon's apparently occurs in the mountains of S. Cal ( S.D. and Riverside County )..or the ID's aren't totally correct.

Copper Fern, Bommeria hispida  is the least common, at least this far north. Fairly common as you get closer to Mexico in S. AZ.

Star Cloak is an obvious favorite, but, Copper Fern would take 2nd place on a " Top 10 " list w / out hesitation.. 

 

[Rivera]

Here is one of the flowers of Asarum caudatum, just opened this morning.

[Hillizard]

On 1/20/2024 at 8:36 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

 Think it's just a matter of time until you start seeing them..  Seems they're a fairly common sight in / around San Francisco.


 

Same story, even in the lower desert..  even one that literally is considered tropical in origin..   Majority of folks here assume Cacti / Yucca / and Agave are about as " exotic " as it gets for interesting native stuff..    Not even close.. A dozen -or more- " Desert " Ferns anyone??   ...Just have to know where to look < for seed > / who to purchase from.

  Expand your " plant options view " by another 250 - 600 miles to the south ( 600 Mi. = Roughly the distance between Rockport, on the Mendo. Coast, to the port of entry in T.J. / San Diego )  and, ..You've got plenty of stuff to consider,  95% of which will do fine here if sited correctly / might require only occasional, extra care at times. 

Not all that long ago, in non - human timescales,  northern limit for a fair majority of the native stuff you see in the deserts here currently,  was somewhere 150 -300 miles to the south.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

37 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

 

I need to send you A. watsonii seed to trial out there later this year..   Pipevines seem to gravitate toward it here.. Except in the yard - yet, lol.

[Hillizard]

40 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

I need to send you A. watsonii seed to trial out there later this year..   Pipevines seem to gravitate toward it here.. Except in the yard - yet, lol.

 

40 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

I need to send you A. watsonii seed to trial out there later this year..   Pipevines seem to gravitate toward it here.. Except in the yard - yet, lol.

Thanks. I'll be happy to trial that Asarum species at my place if you get seeds. Attracting any butterfly species other than fritillaries or cabbage loopers would be a plus this year!

BTW, I'm overwintering my two surviving Guaiacum coulteri indoors this winter, even though the local temps have been relatively mild and have not dipped into the 20sF ...yet.😉

[Silas_Sancona]

On 1/25/2024 at 2:28 PM, Hillizard said:

 

Thanks. I'll be happy to trial that Asarum species at my place if you get seeds. Attracting any butterfly species other than fritillaries or cabbage loopers would be a plus this year!

BTW, I'm overwintering my two surviving Guaiacum coulteri indoors this winter, even though the local temps have been relatively mild and have not dipped into the 20sF ...yet.😉

... Hopefully they're getting closer to planting size..  Mine have been out all winter in the always shaded this time of year - all day part of the yard, even during the couple nights where it dipped to  28-29F ..enough to fry the new- growth atop the Bougainvillea ..and younger Sunflowers, lol..

Forgot to mention ..If you have space ..and can keep it from going too crazy,  i noticed Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus  attracted much attention from Pipevines, tons of bees, Sulphurs, and the extra special Great Purple Hairstreak when in flower at Tohono Chul Park in Tucson a couple years back.  We'll see if the one i planted here attracts the same species + others this summer ..esp. if it actually rains this year.

 

[Hillizard]

14 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

... Hopefully they're getting closer to planting size..  Mine have been out all winter in the always shaded this time of year - all day part of the yard, even during the couple nights where it dipped to  28-29F ..enough to fry the new- growth atop the Bougainvillea ..and younger Sunflowers, lol..

Forgot to mention ..If you have space ..and can keep it from going too crazy,  i noticed Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus  attracted much attention from Pipevines, tons of bees, Sulphurs, and the extra special Great Purple Hairstreak when in flower at Tohono Chul Park in Tucson a couple years back.  We'll see if the one i planted here attracts the same species + others this summer ..esp. if it actually rains this year.

 

Good advice about butterfly magnets. I took your suggestion, ordered  and planted a Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower) to see if that helps too! It's already in bloom too!

[Silas_Sancona]

18 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Good advice about butterfly magnets. I took your suggestion, ordered  and planted a Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower) to see if that helps too! It's already in bloom too!

Aside from needing -some- moisture, ..compared to the really drought tolerant stuff in your collection, it's a tough pant ..and yeahh, lol,  once it settles in / spreads out a little, you'll have flutter-bys all over it.. Both Queens and Monarchs will use it to " perfume" themselves.  I do recommend giving it a haircut  ..say once a year   because it can look a little ragged at the end of the growing / flowering season ( ..in winter here )

[Hillizard]

9 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Aside from needing -some- moisture, ..compared to the really drought tolerant stuff in your collection, it's a tough pant ..and yeahh, lol,  once it settles in / spreads out a little, you'll have flutter-bys all over it.. Both Queens and Monarchs will use it to " perfume" themselves.  I do recommend giving it a haircut  ..say once a year   because it can look a little ragged at the end of the growing / flowering season ( ..in winter here )

Thanks. I planted it in the backyard (that gets more water), since it's not a California native like all the plants in my front yard!

[Rivera]

Aristolochia californica creeps up Howea forsteriana in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.