Re: Help with Amorphophallus & Sauromatum

From: Tony Avent tony at plantdel.com> on 2002.03.24 at 03:21:03(8333) Doug: Your note on Sauromatum (typhonium) being invasive is quite interesting. Do you mean invasive as per the official US government definition of "invades a natural functioning ecosystem and displaces native plants" or do you simply mean it seeds around the garden? For us, seed which are not harvested will certainly seed around the garden, but here it certainly doesn't qualify as invasive. We have found that harvesting the seed or breaking off the flowers after they have finished will prevent the seeding. Also, a small bit of Roundup as it emerges will also easily remove it from your garden. With all of the serious issues surrounding invasive plants, I think it would serve us well to clarify the term before we see many of our garden plants being banned than only reproduce well in a garden setting. +More At 10:16 PM 3/22/02 -0600, you wrote: >Pete, I would strongly urge you to tell people that Sauromatum is >potentially invasive. I do not think it should be planted out of >containers. We have a research group here at the University of Washington >that has worked with this species for 50+ years studying thermogenicity. I >made the mistake of planting tubers in my garden at home to try and grow >the researches a big crop. 15 years later I am still trying to eradicate >them from my garden. Doug > >_________________/\/\/\______________________ > >Doug Ewing, Greenhouse Manager (206) 543-0436 >Department of Botany >University of Washington >Box 355325 >Seattle, WA 98195-5325 > > > > > Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, NC 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdel.com phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent

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