Lysichiton

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Bogs

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.

Comments

Todd Boland's picture

Todd Boland

Sun, 04/25/2010 - 3:15pm

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

Paul T's picture

Paul T (not verified)

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:59am

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.  ;D

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 9:48am

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's picture

Paul T (not verified)

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 2:25pm

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. :(

Paul T's picture

Paul T (not verified)

Fri, 11/25/2011 - 12:09am

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.  8)  I was rather pleased to flower one of them though.

Jan Jeddeloh's picture

Jan Jeddeloh

Wed, 02/08/2012 - 9:13am

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.  :rolleyes:

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

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Wed, 02/08/2012 - 10:07am
Jan wrote:

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.  :rolleyes:

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's picture

Jan Jeddeloh

Sat, 03/03/2012 - 6:11pm

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

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Sun, 03/04/2012 - 11:27am
Jan wrote:

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!

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 11:00am

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

cohan's picture

cohan (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 10:58am

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

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 2:18pm
cohan wrote:

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 :-\

cohan's picture

cohan (not verified)

Tue, 04/10/2012 - 11:05pm

200%! Very impressive! ;) Are you sure they were all seedlings? maybe some were slugs in disguise  ;D

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 9:24am
cohan wrote:

200%! Very impressive! ;) Are you sure they were all seedlings? maybe some were slugs in disguise  ;D

Who knows? The very first two plants I had were both devoured by slugs but now when I have thousands of seedlings they do not taste any :-\ I suppose they are not rare enough.

cohan's picture

cohan (not verified)

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 4:45pm

Limax epicureus?

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 1:04am
cohan wrote:

Limax epicureus?

Have not met many of them but Deroceras agreste greedigutus is common!