Arisaema ciliatum

UMBRELLA COBRA LILY

COLLECTOR’S PACK

Arisaema ciliatum
UMBRELLA COBRA LILY
COLLECTOR’S PACK

Arisaema ciliatum is a striking, and very unusual feature plant.

Blooms like Cobra heads with loooooong tails

Blooms are large and very showy – shaped like a rearing Cobra’s head.
With very looooooong, thread like tails hanging from their hoods.
You just have to see them – striking and unusual.

Deep burgundy striped with vanilla

Colouring is superb – deep maroon burgundy, striped vertically with vanilla-cream-green.
Blooms are very upright on rigid stems – a proud plant.
Nattily wearing its pin-striped suit of burgundy, vanilla and green

Spring & summer highlight

Late string and early summer brings the Cobra flowers rearing up.
So visitors who have never met your Cobra Lilies won’t believe their eyes.
Then in late summer the heads turn into pokers of bright red berries – also very striking and decorative.

Spectacular foliage too

But Arisaema ciliatum contributes much more than just startling flowers and brilliant berries.
The foliage is a garden highlight too.

Leaves like naked umbrella spokes

No other way to describe.
Loooooong, narrow leaflets radiate out from the top of each stem – like the spokes of an umbrella without any covering on.

Worth growing for the foliage alone

Amazing foliage.
The leaves would be enough – but we also have those amazing flowers !!!

Exotic & impressive plant – catches all eyes

You can’t help noticing Arisaema ciliatum in the garden.
Standing an impressive 60-90cm High x 30-60cm. Wide.
It is an upright grower with an impressive and exotic presence.

Stunner for full shade

Tubers of Arisaema ciliatum thrive in spots where there is shade all day.
How lucky can a shade gardener be.

One of the easiest Aroids to grow

Happily, majestic Arisaema ciliatum is one of the very easiest and most forgiving of all the Aroid family.
It is a good garden growing plant.

Heat & humidity tolerant

Big plus is that they also don’t mind summer heat and humidity, providing they have that full shade position.

Plenty of humus

Being woodland plants they enjoy plenty of humus and organic matter in and on the soil.
And consistent moisture, though they do not like to be boggy – well drained but not parched is the go.
They are very happy in clay, as long as it does not remain boggy wet.
Neutral, acid or alkaline soils are all fine,

Long lived perennial for shade

Arisaema ciliatum is a long lived, tuber forming perennial.
Which gently multiplies to make an impressive clump.
It dies back to the tubers for winter – then the wonderful leaves emerge next spring to do their naked umbrellas thing again.

Good survivor

These tubers also give it great resistance – it can store plenty of energy and food below ground for the tougher times.

Frost hardy

Tubers of Arisaema ciliatum are frost hardy down to approx. -18°C.
The natural mulch that occurs in shaded gardens gives them good protection in frosty winters.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Rabbits and deer are not tempted (maybe it is the rearing Cobra look).

SEED SOWING ADVICE: Arisaema ciliatum

Sow seeds in deep tubes or trays, during autumn, late winter and early spring.

Sow indoors for maximum germination:
First soak the seeds in water, in a clean glass, for 48 hours.
Use water that has been previously boiled and allowed to cool (saved from boiling the kettle is an easy option).
Make sure you change the water to fresh several times a day over the 48 hours.
This will help wash out the seeds natural “germination inhibitor” and help speed up germination lift off.

Now sow the seeds in deep tubes or a deep tray, on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
(A deep container is necessary as they make deep roots).
Then pat gently to ensure good contact with the mix.

Now just lightly cover the seeds with a little sieved mix or fine vermiculite, but do not bury them more than 1cm. deep.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

And thoroughly moisten the mix by standing it in a shallow water bath, and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.
Then mist the surface of the mix from a spray water-bottle to settle the seeds in.

Place the sown tray in a warm, well-lit position.
(But not in any direct sunlight, as this dry the seeds out which prevents germination).

Continue to keep the tray consistently moist by misting regularly with the spray water-bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover or bag, will also help to maintain necessary consistent moisture.
(Make sure you remove it as soon as sprouting commences).
Arisaema seeds appreciate consistent moisture (nit wet) for germination, and resent drying out.

Keep the seeds warm & moist

Temperatures around 18-21°C approx. during daytime are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.
But the seeds do not mind cooling down at night..

Seeds begin to sprout in approx. 4-8 weeks.
But do not discard the punnet too quickly, as it is a natural defence of this plant to stagger seed germination to increase odds of success.

Once seeds have sprouted they will need feeding so they can develop their corms.
So every few days – mist the seedlings with a weak solution of Seasol / Maxicrop or similar, gentle foliar feed.

Grow on until you have nice sized corms ready for planting out into the garden.

Seed Count COLLECTOR’S PACK: 3 seeds per pack approx. (Sorry – seeds are scarce).

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