From Plant Delights 8 March: Primula 'Belarina Lively Lilac' is another in the superb English Kerley strain of winter and summer hardy primroses. The 7" tall x 1' wide rosettes of green leaves emerge in winter, and are topped, starting for us in late March with impressive clusters of amethyst flowers, each with white eye zone. Average to slightly dry woodland soils are best. You'll love tucking these around the woodland garden for an amazing spring show.
Arisaema fargesii Arisaema fargesii is a Chinese cobra lily, discovered by French plant explorer Pere Farges in the early 1900s, that has turned out to be one of the easiest to grow and most spectacular arisaema species in our collection. In late spring the giant, glossy green, trifoliate leaves (similar to Arisaema candidissimum) emerge from the nicely offsetting tubers. Alongside the leaves emerge the flower stalks, each topped with a large wine-red pitcher with dramatic white striping. The tip of the pitcher ends in a narrow, congested, alien-like red thread. From inside the inflorescence of Arisaema fargesii emerges the spadix, resembling a tiny red lizard peeking out of the pitcher...an absolutely stunning aroid! Did not overwinter.
We spotted this amazing form of Arum concinnatum in 2010, near the Crete town of Omalos at 2,915' elevation. The heavy silver spotting on the dark green leaf is something we rarely see in this typically green species. The 10" long x 5" wide foliage emerges in November (NC), and remains looking great until it flowers and goes dormant in mid-spring. The green spathe and spadix adorn the clump for us in mid-April. It's taken a while to bulk up enough to offer, so this will probably be it for a while...if it sells well.
Our 2015 Plant Delights Nursery introduction is another in the line of giant forms of Leucocasia (formerly Colocasia) gigantea, this seed strain from a 2011 Alan Galloway collection from Laos. Leucocasia gigantea 'Laosy Giant' forms giant upright leaves that are one third larger than Leucocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant', although the overall clump size is about the same. The clumps are adorned in late summer with amazing clusters of pure white flowers. Zones: 8a to 11
Dormancy: Winter
Height: 108" tall
Culture: Sun to Part Sun
Origin: Laos
