Heat-loving Virginia Peltandra

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Virginia Peltandra most often grows in swamps, as well as in shallow waters in subtropical and warm-temperate climatic zones. This beauty has been cultivated for a long time - since 1759. Its large arrow-shaped shiny leaves will certainly become a magnificent decoration of the shores of lakes and shallow ponds in southern Russia. Peltandra virginsky goes well with other plants and does not creep, and its dense thickets look very impressive

Getting to know the plant

Peltandra virginsky represents the Aroid family and is translated from Greek as “thyroid anthers”. The short rhizomes of this perennial always form a fairly substantial number of fibrous roots.

The leaves of the Virginia peltandra almost always develop simultaneously with the bizarre inflorescences. Moreover, the length of the leaf petioles is three times the length of the plates. As for the leaf blades, they are fleshy, arrow-shaped or spear-shaped in this interesting plant and reach a length of ten to seventy-five centimeters. Closer to the bases, the width of their middle lobes is about 7 - 20 cm, but the lateral lobes will be two to three times shorter.

The flowering stems of a beautiful perennial are usually longer than the petioles. The cylindrical cobs of this plant are formed by unisexual flowers, which are characterized by the absence of perianths. The pistillate flowers are located in the lower parts of the ears, the tallow flowers are slightly higher, and the upper parts of the ears are sterile. The flowering of Virginia peltandra can be observed in late spring, as well as in early summer.

The fruits of this beautiful aquatic inhabitant are green berries containing only one seed surrounded by mucus.

In nature, there are four species of this plant, which are mainly distributed in the southern and Atlantic regions of North America.

The use of virgin peltandra

Once upon a time, this plant was used by the Native Americans as food: not only the leaves, but also rather starchy rhizomes, as well as inflorescences with veils and bizarre seeds, from which a strong cocoa aroma emanate, are edible. However, due to the high content of calcium oxalate in this beauty, all its parts must be subjected to preliminary long-term processing.

Peltandra virginis is also used to decorate slow-flowing and stagnant streams with reservoirs. This ornamental plant looks wonderful not only in the company of other plants, but also in single plantings. Anyone wishing to beautifully arrange reservoirs should definitely pay attention to this beauty.

How to grow

Swampy shores and shallow waters are best suited for growing Virginia peltandra. The ideal option would be sunny areas - this beauty cannot stand the shadow. The plant is planted mainly in the spring, immersing it to a depth of forty centimeters. The soil should be selected fertile. It is most convenient to plant this beauty in containers - later it will be easier to transfer them to winter. But it is permissible to plant Virginia peltandra in the ground only on the Black Sea coast.

Virginia peltandra hibernates at rather low positive temperatures in moist soil in cellars or in reservoirs of winter gardens. And on the Black Sea coast, this plant can perfectly overwinter in the ground.

Reproduction of virginian peltandra occurs in the spring by dividing the rhizomes. This division is carried out as soon as the plant starts to grow. This thermophilic beauty can also reproduce by seeds.

Virginia peltandra does not require special care; it is also practically not affected by pests and various diseases.

It should also be noted that when working with Virginia peltandra, you must be extremely careful, as its juice can cause allergic reactions.