Germinating arum seed

[Ellen Hornig]

Simon, in answer to your question about germinating arum seeds: it depends
on the arum.  As far as I know, all germinate at cool, not cold,
temperatures (50-55F is good); but some are epigeal (do it on the first
round), some hypogeal (make take a while - like 2 years - to put up a
leaf, though apparently they're up to something underground before that).
>From my experience and limited memory, A. italicum, nigrum,
purpureospathum, cyrenaicum (and concinnatum? ) fit in the first category;
"a lot of others" fit in the second.  Right now I have various species
emerging that were sown in early 1997.

In general, I just soak them (as for any large seed: 1-2 days in water,
with several rinses), sow, and keep in a cool place (cyclamen house).  If
they don't come up the first season, let them follow natural patterns
until they do.  I'd wait at least 3 full years before discarding - and if
you want them very much, longer than that might still produce results.

Good luck.

Ellen


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Ellen Hornig
Seneca Hill Perennials
3712 County Route 57
Oswego, New York 13126
USDA zone 5B (mintemps -10 to -20F)
(315) 342-5915
Website: www.senecahill.com