I may be patient but I am also incredibly forgetful when it comes to names and what is growing in my garden. It doesn’t bother me too much as I do remember I have plants when I see something in a nursery and then there is always the surprise and pleasure when I discover a forgotten gem lurking in the border.
This weekend it was Arisarum proboscideum or ‘Mouse Plant. You will see from the photo below that you really have to get down on your hands and knees to see the spathes which if you look very carefully so look a bit like mice with their tails sticking out. As ever I had forgotten I had this plant and I was busy weeding the woodland border and admiring the lovely clump of glossy green arrow shaped leaves when one of the mousey spathes appeared. I was so excited as the plant has lots of spathes on it and looks wonderful. I have seen this plant at the Malvern Spring Show for some years now and never bought it as I thought it might be difficult for my garden. I’m not sure why but maybe it was woodland requirements which I have only had in the last year or so. I now remember that the plant was a gift from Simon last year along with some other edible plants when he was in the area for the Spring show.
I wonder how long the flowers will last and how the spathes will decay. I think I will be having dirty knees for a few weeks now while I keep peering at the plant to see what is happening.
Interesting plant and great pictures. But, thank you most of all for letting me know I’m not the only gardener out there who forgets the name of plants.
Fascinating plant I have seen only through pictures….love the name…seems so appropriate
YVONNE – NZ – Have never seen it here! Interesting, as you say easily lost! You said you had been given some edible plants – not sure I would like to eat a “mouse”!!??
Lovely little plant – it grew incredibly well in my Malvern garden so I hope that it will stay with you for many years.
What adorable little ‘mice’! I, too, would have dirty knees from looking at them!
Good to come across someone else with dirty knees photographing my favourite mouse plant. And you pictures are far clearer then mine (sigh) but there’s only so much kneeling on wet soil that I can manage. Lovely post.
I have just today bought one of these plants which I’d not seen for sale before, its really fascinating and am looking forward to finding the best space for it back at home when we return from holiday!