Seems like the taxonomists that were assigned to name a rare plant
discovery from China were either bored, suffered a lack of imagination,
were just plain lazy or had a brilliant sense of humor. Whatever the case
may be and "A rose by any other yada yada yada", what we have
here is a superb garden plant. I've enjoyed Saruma henryi in my
garden for about 12 years now and season after season, it never fails to
impress all who behold it.
I first saw Saruma henryi growing in
Cole
Burrell's ice cold Minnesota zone 4 garden in 1995. I knew if a plant
could survive up there, it could survive just about anywhere. Cole,
generous chap that he is, was kind enough to send me some seeds and I've
been growing the plant ever since, sharing it with many friends and
customers.
Saruma henryi was discovered on a Chinese plant collection
expedition in the early part of the 1900's by plant explorer
Augustine
Henry and named in his honor. Who knows why it took so long to really
get itself into cultivation?
Now....back to the taxonomists. Saruma is an anagram of the word Asarum
and is a monotypic genus in the Aristolochiaceae family. The
Aristolochiaceae family is home to the genus Asarum, the deciduous
"Wild Gingers" and Hexastylis, the evergreen "Wild
Gingers". Also, the genus Aristolochia, better known as the
"Dutchman's Pipe". Our East Coast native, Aristolochia
durior, can climb a hundred feet into the top of a tree and makes a
really neat spiral around the branches. The flowers resemble little
pipes. Check out a picture at -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/502038078_48d4084174.jpg?v=0
If you'd like to know more about the fascinating Aristolochiaceae family
you can go to the following link -
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/anthophyta/paleoherbs/aristolochiales.html
The best way that I can think of to describe Saruma henryi is a
"Wild Ginger on steroids". The large, velvety, cordate foliage
holds up well all the growing season long. For several weeks in mid
Summer, it is brilliantly topped with one inch brilliant primrose yellow
flowers. I grow it in partial shade and it attains a height of about
12" - 20". It seems to have NO insect, pest or disease problems
and is 100% deerproof!
I've been building a good stock of plants to share with you and now is a
good time to plant them.
What you'll receive are large, 2 year old bareroot plants in full, active
growth. They'll come to you wrapped in long fibered, unmilled sphagnum
moss. This material is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and a very
useful material.
The prices shown below include FREE SHIPPING on bareroot plants out of their 2" pots. If you would like to receive the plants undisturbed, in their pots, please add .95¢ per plant to cover the extra cost of shipping soil and pots.
7 for $ 35.00 delivered ($5.00 ea)
10 for $ 45.00 delivered ($4.50 ea)
15 for $ 60.00 delivered ($4.00 ea)
20 for $ 70.00 delivered ($3.50 ea)
50 for $150.00 delivered ($3.00 ea)
Larger quantities at even lower prices upon request
Ordering couldn't be easier! Just fill out the order form at
//www.sunfarm.com/orderform.pdf
![[]](http://sunfarm.com/images/sh.jpg)
![[]](http://sunfarm.com/images/shf.jpg)
