When I first acquired my greenhouse a few years ago, I was soon drawn into the pleasure of growing what I considered to be more exotic plants, under glass. The first of these was Arisaema Candidissimum, with which I had considerable success, as can be seen here in the top image.
I came across a knowledgeable blog post about Arisaema Candidissimum – in which it’s explained that the plant was first introduced into Britain from Yunnan (the most south-western province in China) by George Forrest, in 1914. Well done him, I thought as I set out to cultivate it in the most south-western region of Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway – though we are not so close as Yunnan to the Tropic of Cancer.
I also discovered that this form of Arisaema has a variety of everyday names including Chinese Cobra Lily and Striped Cobra Lily. But my favourite variant is the jaunty and faintly irreverent, Jack in the Pulpit.
Growing in confidence, after flowering I decided to move my three plants from the greenhouse to an old salt glazed agricultural trough, fairly close to the house. I reasoned, correctly, that they may not get through the winter in an unheated greenhouse. With hindsight, I should have planted out my specimens in a damp and dappled-shade border, where, covered with leaf mould they might better escape the depredations of frost.
The following spring (2023) no plants appeared in the trough and I assumed they were a lost cause. In the months that followed, I failed to get round to clearing out and re-planting. Just as well. This year (2024) on the 29th of June, I was completely taken by surprise one morning to see that Jack had reappeared, his lovely waxen flower-bearing spadix surrounded by a delicately patterned spathe. As you can see from the picture below, he was growing among another delightfully named wild plant – Herb Robert.
I think next year I will start some Arisaema bulbs in the greenhouse and when they have flowered, introduce them to that leafy border, among the meconopsis and primulas. Who knows, those late spring favourites might prove a welcoming congregation to the exotic Jack in the Pulpit!
The full list of pieces that make up my A-Z in the Dumfriesshire Garden in 2024 can be found here: https://davidgrahamclark.net/a-z-of-the-dumfriesshire-garden-in-2024/
Quotidian 
I am reliably informed that in the 1970s an avenue of rhododendrons was planted on the campus of the University of Stirling and named the George Forest Walk after the Falkirk born plant hunter . We are not sure what the connection is with Airthrey Castle Estate where Stirling campus was established.
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