Herself’s Houston Garden

This looks like a twisted version of a bird’s nest fern. It wants slightly more light than most ferns and lots of water like all ferns do.

The height is about 18″, the spread is the same. We are at the edge of where it will grow so plan to protect it in the winter, or plant it close to the house. Enough heat leaks out of most homes in the winter to protect smaller plants that only need a little help.

Plant in part to full shade and keep moist in the summer, slightly less water is needed in the winter.

Propagate by division. This plant should slowly spread through the garden itself.

I had trouble finding information on this fern, I’ll post more information as I can find it. I acquired this at Jerry’s Jungle.

What a name! Synandrospadix vermitoxicus, I wasn’t sure if it was toxic to vermin or a verminous plant because it is toxic? The name sold me. After some digging I found out it means toxic to worms/insects.

The plant will reach a little more than a foot or two in height and about one to two feet across.

It grows well in full sun, and dry areas along the roads of north west Argentina. But the recommendation from all sources I’m reading suggest light shade and a moist soil. I’ve also read it will grow in shallow water, should you need a plant for a boggy area of your garden. So treat it as you would any other aroid.

Flowers are typical for aroids. These ones are green on the outside and mottled brownish purple and white on the inside for this plant. The inner cone will be purple. I’ll post a photo as soon as it blooms.

At one time it was part of the diet for Chorote Indians in Argentina, it is not so much anymore due to a change toward a more modern diet.

Propagate from offsets and seeds.

This plant was purchased at the Mercer Summer Plant Sale.

( I’ll add more information as it grows, there is little to be found on this plant online or in my books. )

I first heard about Fireman’s Cap at a lecture I attended for under used plants in Houston. This plant is a hummingbird and other bird attractor. They can’t resist those bright red flowers.

Blooms appear late spring, mine started late May this year. It should bloom through out the summer now. Flowers appear first followed by leaves.

It will reach about 8′ tall with a 5′ spread. Fireman’s Cap can go as high as 20′ tall with a 10′ spread. It is fast growing. I stuck this sorry looking one foot tall twig in the ground in March and you can see how large it is the first of June.

It prefers full sun, but will accept part sun.

Watering needs are average to low, drought tolerant once established. It wasn’t the least bit bothered by the 6 week spell of hot, dry, windy weather we had a few months back.

Be careful where you plant it, the thorns are impressive. You don’t want to have to be pruning it often.

This is a cross between E. crista-galli which is a member of the pea family, and very much like the Fireman’s cap but is not frost hardy and E. herbacea ( Cherokee bean ) which has bright red tube like flowers and is more woody than e. crista-galli.

Seeds are reportedly sterile. It is very cold tender and will drop its leaves and may die back to the ground in colder winters.

Awarded the Merit award by the Cal. Horticultural Society in 1981.

Poisonous do not eat it.

If possible protect from wind and also from hard freezes. Go easy on the fertilizer in the fall to help it prepare for winter but don’t underwater.

Propagate by seeds or cuttings.

This alocasia is a plant that has done very well here. I just planted it this spring and it has tripled in size and needs little care. Other gardeners also report it grows with little care. It will reach a height of 6′ and a spread of about half that.

It can handle temperatures down to 10′F so no need to dig it up or cover it if we get a frost. But it will die back when temperatures dip below the mid 40’s to reappear in warmer weather. Water less in the winter to prevent rotting.

Partial shade and damp soil is preferred for this alocasia, though it can handle more sun if necessary. This can also be grown in a pot in a pond.

This is an aroid and part of the Araceae family as are philodendrons. You’ll recognize them by their flowers which have a single petal ( spathe ) and a inflorescence known as a spandix which is a phallic looking flower. Flowers are usually on a short stalk and hidden by the leaves.