After removing the plants, new plants will regrow in the same spot unless steps are taken to prevent them. Plan for at least 2-3 years of monitoring and maintenance. Italian Arum can be controlled when herbicides are used according to label instructions. There are look-alike plants including Wapato, Stink Lily, Jack in the pulpit, and Calla Lily, especially while not in flowering season.
Plants in the genus Arum can either be half-hardy or hardy perennials. In this Gardener’s HQ guide, we’ll explore cultivating Arum plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings. Keep in mind that while they share characteristics with Araceae members, they are not true arums. You can also stow the bulb away without removing it from its pot, but the soil mix needs replacing every two years anyway. Once the leaves are completely yellow, you can cut them to the shortest.
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- Cuckoopint and related plants can take from between one to six months to germinate, and ideally should be germinated at a temperature of 13 to 18 degrees Celsius.
- There are over 32 varieties of arum in the family Araceae.
- Arums are rhizomatous, herbaceous, perennial plants growing 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm) tall, with arrowhead-shaped leaves 4 to 22 inches (10 to 55 cm) long.
- It is commonly known as an Italian Arum and has other colorful names including Italian Lords and Ladies, large cuckoo pint, and orange candle flower.
- Arum plants prefer partial to full shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil.
If you intend to start seedlings off inside, then seeds should be prepared 12 weeks before they are due to be planted out (in the spring or autumn). In areas that are prone to cold winters, protect the rhizomes with a thick layer of mulch. All airborne leaves may die off, but in spring they’ll grow back as lush and beautiful as ever!
The flower has a central spadix and is surrounded by a creamy white spathe. The flowers are pollinated by small flies that are attracted to the odor of the flowers. The plant produces clusters of berries that are initially green and then ripen to orangish-red. The plant is dormant during the summer, and the foliage reemerges during the fall. In colder climates, the leaves will reemerge in the spring. Best grown in medium moisture, consistently moist, humusy, organically rich soils in part shade to full shade.
How do I remove Arum plants from my garden?
All plant parts are toxic and the parts contain toxic calcium oxalates in needle shaped crystals. According to the California Invasive Plant Council research, if consumed, it may cause serious harm, allergic reaction or death to adults, children and animals. Other sources report that ingesting a small amount can lead to unpleasant symptoms including dermatitis, oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. In severe cases, the swelling from the crystals can obstruct your dog’s airway. It is reported as being unpalatable and toxic to livestock.
Arum Plant Information
From small and cute to huge and chunky, a foul stench to the delicate aroma, Arum has it all! It is only a shame that many need the care of a greenhouse, but in a sheltered position, many many species may survive. It is best to bulk up your plants in the greenhouse and only try them outside if you have spare tubers. They are usually upright with arrow shaped leaves and elegant pitcher shaped flowers. The Italian Arum is an aggressive growing plant and can reach 12-18” tall. The horticulture industry (florists) highlights this plant as a desirable ornamental.
The most important thing with this latter group is drainage. Drainage should be very sharp as they will not tolerate sitting in water at all. Another important species is Solomon’s lily (A. palaestinum), native to the Middle East and naturalized elsewhere. The leaves are carefully prepared and eaten with lemon in some areas, and the plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine. The inside of the spathe and the spadix are a striking dark purple or blackish red colour, for which the plant is also known as black calla.
Cuckoopint, and Lords-and-Ladies: Cultivation & Garden Use
- Similar in appearance is the Italian lords-and-ladies, or Italian arum (A. italicum), with an attractive white spathe and showy red fruits.
- It is only a shame that many need the care of a greenhouse, but in a sheltered position, many many species may survive.
- All plant parts are toxic and the parts contain toxic calcium oxalates in needle shaped crystals.
Feeding is a good idea with Arums, especially if they are in pots. Feed with a high nitrogen liquid feed once a fortnight. This will feed the leaves, which in turn will feed the tuber/rhizome.
The attractive variegated leaves are shaped like an arrow with a pale green midrib and veins. Cultivars with strong white variegation are the most popular. This plant has been used in cottage gardens, borders, or shade gardens. Before considering this plant for your home garden, it is best to determine if this species is considered invasive in your area.
Particularly exotic, it is perfectly suited to wet areas like water bodies and ponds, but is also the perfect plant for your flower beds, edges or standalone spots. Water sparingly at the beginning and then more regularly once flowers have appeared, until the end of the blooming season. It is best to sow Arum seeds outdoor in the autumn at a depth of 30 mm; if growing from tubers, then they should be buried at a depth of 7 to 8 cm. This bulb perennial is native to South Africa, not from Ethiopia as its scientific name shows.
As a minimum, cut off and dispose of berry clusters before they ripen. Look for shoots in fall and winter, flowers in the spring, and spikes in late spring/summer. Act before or during flowering period to keep it from spreading seeds. Italian arum is an herbaceous perennial groundcover and a member of the arum family (Araceae).
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Dig up the plants, ensuring to remove all tubers from the soil. Arum species can make intriguing additions to gardens due to their unique flowers and often beautifully patterned leaves. The plant is able to self seed, but tubers can also be divided in the autumn if more plants are required.
For these reasons, some states have this plant on the arum capital review noxious plant list. Arum italicum, also known as Italian arum or Italian lords-and-ladies, is often grown for its attractive foliage and distinctive flowers. Alternate your arums with other bulbs that bloom in summer. Removing Arum can be difficult due to its persistent tubers.