Common Name: pinellia
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Araceae
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Description: Green spadix with a spathe that has a greenish pink interior
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Heavy Shade
Culture
Grow in moist, rich, fertile, humusy, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Plants will spread in the garden by bulb offsets, bulbils, and self-seeding. May become invasive in favorable conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Pinellia is a genus of about 6 species of spreading tuberous herbaceous perennials. They are native to China, Korea and Japan.
Genus name honors Giovanni Vincenzo Pinelli (1535-1601) of the Botanic Garden in Naples, Italy.
'Polly Spout' was discovered and introduced by Dick Weaver, founder of We-Du Nursery, and was named for Polly Spout, North Carolina, where the nursery originated. It is a cross of Pinellia tripartita 'Atropurpurea' and Pinellia pedatisecta. The leaves of 'Polly Spout' grow individually from underground tubers and have a long petiole that terminates with five lanceolate leaflets. Its flower spikes also grow individually from the underground tuber and consist of a calla lily-like bloom that has a narrow columnar inflorescence (pale green spadix containing both male and female flowers) wrapped by a tubular spathe and blade. The spadix is fused to the inside of the spathe, so all flowers on the spadix face in one direction. The spadix has a very long, whip-like extension which emerges upward from the lip of the spathe for another 7-10 in. The interior of the spathe is a greenish pink. 'Polly Spout' is an intermediate between its two parents. P. tripartita 'Atropurpurea' has leaves with three leaflets and a reddish purple spathe; P. pedatisecta has leaves with seven to eleven leaflets and a green spathe. It grows 1.5 to 2 ft. tall and 0.5 to 1 ft. wide. 'Polly Spout' is self sterile and will not set seed unless other pinellia species are nearby. It may also be sold as 'Poly Spout'. Pinellias contain calcium oxalate crystals, which are an irritant to the mouth and esophagus and they are toxic to cats and dogs.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Woodland gardens. Rock gardens. Sun-dappled areas.