Pinellia tripartita - is it a weed?

From: "Nick Miller" <millern at wave.co.nz> on 1997.10.23 at 21:31:41(1476) I recently purchased a plant of Pinellia tripartita, a charming little aroid from Asia. However, on looking it up in Deni Bown's book, I read that another species, P. ternata, "can spread rapidly and verge on becoming a weed". Before I let Pinellia tripartita loose in our garden I thought I should ask whether anyone living in a mild-temperate climate (mild winters with little frost, coolish summers) - perhaps the Pacific Northwest, has any experience of this species. When I contemplate the weed species that we already have in our garden (jasmine, ivy, Oxalis, ferns, Alstroemeria, Tradescantia etc. etc.) I am reluctant to unleash another one. Nick Miller +More Rotorua, New Zealand

From: Tony Avent <tony at plantdel.com> on 1997.10.23 at 23:38:34(1479) Nick: We have grown P. cordata, P. pedatisecta, and P. tripartita for 8 years in our garden. We knew P. ternata was a weed and declined to plant it. P. pedatisecta is now being banished from our garden, as it simply spread too rapidly. P. tripartita has behaved wonderfully, and while it reseeded some, it all stays near the mother plant. P. tripartita 'Atropurpurea' had reseeded very little...unfortunately. I wish I could enourage P. cordata to spread, as it is absolutely stunning! I hope this helps. Tony Avent +More Plant Delights Nursery 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, NC 27603 USA ph 919 772-4794 fx 919 662-0370 email tony@plantdel.com USDA zone 7, 0F-100F "I Consider Every Plant Hardy Until I Have Killed It Myself...Three Times" - Avent

From: grsjr at juno.com (George R Stilwell, Jr.) on 1997.10.24 at 01:28:16(1481) Nick, Pinellia tripartita is well behaved, not at all like P. ternata. Ray +More

From: "Mr R.a McClure" <Rob.McClure at sci.monash.edu.au> on 1997.10.24 at 03:51:45(1485) Nick, I am growing this plant just across the Tasman here in Melbourne. As the others have said it is fairly well behaved and spreads 'moderately'. I nip the seed heads off just to reduce it's fecundity (say that fast with a kiwi accent !). It is a beaut. little plant for sure. Cheers, Rob ( It is 29degC here today and it's still only October......... GROAN. ) Rob.McClure +More Dept.of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Monash University, Clayton 3168 Victoria AUSTRALIA. Phone:(03)9905.5625 Fax:(03)9905.5613 e-mail: Rob.McClure@sci.monash.edu.au

From: "Carlo A. Balistrieri" <cabalist at facstaff.wisc.edu> on 1997.10.24 at 16:23:32(1496) There's one in every crowd so I may as well own up to it. I've tried a couple of Pinellias in pots (not the dread ternata) and lost them to rot. A wet, cool fall was the culprit last year. If you can't get them in the ground, make sure that the potting medium you use is well drained and doesn't stay soggy. As a matter of fact, most of the aroids I grow, indoors and out, are being planted in a medium full of grit and/or bark, regardless of the species' needs for moisture. Same with bulbs and other tubers. I've found that recommended mixtures just don't work for me and need to be opened up substantially. Although I am not a heavy handed waterer, I figure it is easier to add more water when needed than to dry something out when its had too much. I personally feel that the need for air at the root/tuber/bulb/rhizome cannot be overstated. Carlo +More Carlo A. Balistrieri, J.D. Email: CABalist@facstaff.wisc.edu P.O. Box 327 Ashippun, WI 53003-0327 U.S.A. Voice: 414.569.1902 Telefax: same number, please call ahead.

From: plantnut at shadow.net (Dewey Fisk) on 1997.10.27 at 15:24:36(1503) Carlo is right about the water... I added coir to the media in which I potted Amorphophallus. Holds too much water and I had some rotten tubers.... Never again! Dewey +More Dewey E. Fisk, Plant Nut THE PHILODENDRON PHREAQUE Your Source for Tropical Araceae

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