Page 368 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

366 POND PLANT DIRECTORY

Zantedeschia aethiopica Acorus calamus Calla palustris
African Lily Sweet Flag Bog Arum

ORIGINS This plant is native to southern and eastern ORIGINS Widely distributed throughout temperate parts ORIGINS Temperate regions of northern Europe and Asia,
parts of Africa. of the northern hemisphere. and also North America.
SIZE May reach up to 3 ft (90 cm) in height. SIZE Can grow to a height of 3 ft (1 m). SIZE Can grow to a height of 8 in (20 cm).
WATER Set in containers on the marginal shelf down to WATER May be planted in damp ground, or 4 in (10 cm) WATER Can be grown on the marginal shelf down to a
8 in (20 cm), or in damp ground. Hardy to –10°F (–12°C). below the water’s surface. Hardy to –30°F (–34°C). depth of 4 in (10 cm). Hardy to –30°F (–34°C).
PROPAGATION This can be carried out by dividing clumps PROPAGATION This can be achieved easily by dividing PROPAGATION Easily accomplished by the division of the
in the spring and also by taking offsets. clumps in the spring. rhizomes in the spring.
There are two forms of this rush, both of which
have swordlike leaves resembling those of an
iris. The wild green form grows more vigorously
than the smaller variegated form, whose foliage is
striped with creamy white. Sweet Flag grows well
both in sunny conditions and in partial shade. Plant
it in clumps for maximum impact. The flowers are
fairly inconspicuous. Regular divisions of mature
plants will encourage good growth.

This arum lily’s dark green leaves emphasize its Although bearing a superficial resemblance to the
large white flowers, with their golden central African Lily (see left), Bog Arum can be identified
spadix. The blooms, which may last for a month, by its smaller size and the lighter green coloration
are replaced by yellow berries. The plant is most of its leaves. The white, flattened flowers may be
likely to survive outside over winter if it is kept in fertilized by water snails rather than by insects.
deep water, which will protect the base from ice. The reddish berries produced after flowering will
‘Crowborough’ is the hardiest cultivar available. maintain the plant’s attractive appearance.

Lysichiton camtschatcensis
White Skunk Cabbage

ORIGINS Eastern Asia, on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula,
the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, extending to northern Japan.
SIZE Can reach a size of 30 in (75 cm) in height and width.
WATER Plant in damp soil at the pond’s edge, or in pots
2 in (5 cm) underwater. Fully hardy.
PROPAGATION Take offsets from established plants, or
grow from seed.
The striking flowers of the White Skunk
Cabbage are produced in early spring, thus
helping to brighten up the pond at a time when
other plants, such as water lilies, are barely
stirring into growth. Measuring up to 16 in
(40 cm) high, the flowers may sometimes, but
not always, have a rather unpleasant odor, as
the plant’s name suggests. When White Skunk
Cabbage is in bloom, the large, deep green
leaves, which are heavily veined like those of a
cabbage, will emerge and start to unfurl. This plant
fares best when set in relatively rich soil at the side of
the pond, although it can also be grown in a container
on the marginal shelf. It takes time for White Skunk
Cabbage to become fully established, but it grows
more rapidly from divisions than from seed. When
growing from seed, sow from spring to summer,
standing the seed pot in a tub of water
to keep the seeds damp at all times.

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