Arum italicum, sometimes commonly called Italian arum, is a stemless woodland species native to Europe. After bloom, the leaves and spathe die back leaving only the thick spadix which develops attractive, bright orange-red berries in summer. New leaves emerge in autumn and remain evergreen in warm winter climates but die back in cold winter climates such as St. Louis where they emerge again in early spring. Italian arum grows from corms that quickly multiply to form a clump. Arrow-shaped, deep glossy green foliage appears in late September or early October. The hood-like inflorescences usually appear in April and May.
- The Italian Arum is an aggressive growing plant and can reach 12-18” tall.
- Another important species is Solomon’s lily (A. palaestinum), native to the Middle East and naturalized elsewhere.
- Some Arum species produce a pungent smell to attract pollinators, but they are not typically fragrant in a traditional sense.
- The most important thing with this latter group is drainage.
Most species are dormant in the summer and emerge in the fall, providing late-season interest. While these plants have a unique beauty, care should be taken as all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested. The fruits eventually turn orange/bright red and contain seeds that spread the plant to new areas. Plants form white tubers and roots and are difficult to remove.
The plant grows in partial shade to full sun and is tolerant of most soil types. It thrives in conditions that mimic its native riparian and woodland habitats. Once planted, Italium arum spreads rapidly via corm-forming rhizomes. Arum or calla lily is quite hardy even in cool winters. Typically, leaves will stay green until temperatures drop to 25°F (-4°C) for several nights in a row. Calla lily, mistakenly called arum, is certainly one of the most beautiful bulb flowers.
Is Arum invasive in the USA, if so in which states?
Several of the more colourful varieties are grown as handsome plants for a shaded wild garden. The best-known species is the cuckoopint (Arum maculatum), also called lords-and-ladies. This plant is native to southern Europe and northern Africa. Similar in appearance is the Italian lords-and-ladies, or Italian arum (A. italicum), with an attractive white spathe and showy red fruits.
- 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.
- Italian arum grows from corms that quickly multiply to form a clump.
- According to the California Invasive Plant Council research, if consumed, it may cause serious harm, allergic reaction or death to adults, children and animals.
While it sometimes dies back during the summer, it lives for many years. It can create dense patches that are visible in fall through winter. Frequently called “Arum Lilies,” they are not closely related to the true lilies.
All parts of arum plants are considered poisonous and contain calcium oxalate. I live in Sacramento County, CA and have a volunteer plant popping up in many locations in my yard these days. It is commonly known as an Italian Arum and has other colorful names including Italian arum capital review Lords and Ladies, large cuckoo pint, and orange candle flower. It is a species of flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the Araceae family. The plant is native to the British Isles and much of the Mediterranean region, and native to much of Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
It would also be a wonderful opportunity to discover other US native plants that have similar features, such as Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema tryphyllum). Alternatively, keep the plant confined in a container and remove fruits before they are ripe. The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) is a massive corpse flower of the same family. The shade or part shade species need moist but free-draining soil. However, most species are sun lovers and are grown on what is known as the “Mediterranean Cycle,” which is a warm and dry summer and a cool and wet winter.
Italian Arum: What you need to know
Plants in closely related Zantedeschia are also called “Arum Lilies.” WEARING GLOVES, dig out individual plants and sift the soil. Dispose of all parts of the plant in the trash and DO NOT compost.
The mulch can either be a bed of dried leaves, hemp or flax straw, or ferns. Like all bulbs that bloom in summer, water in case of prolonged dry spells or heat waves. Arum bulbs are planted at the beginning of spring, around 1 ½ to 2 inches deep, from March to May. Arum plants typically flower from early to mid spring. Birds disperse the berries so seedlings can pop up anywhere. It pops up and lives happily among other plants, and eventually displaces and excludes native plants.
How do I remove Arum plants from my garden?
It can be found throughout the wet regions of the western United States including 25 counties in California. Arum flower structures generally consist of a spathe, a funnel-shaped bract, that surrounds the rodlike spadix (on which the tiny flowers are borne). The minute flowers on the spadix are typically unisexual. The leaves are commonly glossy and somewhat arrow-shaped. The bitter, burning taste of the plant’s sap may have led to the genus name Arum, from the Arabic word for fire (ar). The sap can be poisonous, especially as concentrated in the whitish rootstock and the brilliant red or orange berries.
How to Grow and Care for Arums
The fruit is a cluster of bright orange or red berries. There are over 32 varieties of arum in the family Araceae. These unique plants are known for their arrow-shaped leaves and flower-like spathe and spadix. Most arums are not frost tolerant, as many are from the Mediterranean region; however, a few European varieties have some cold hardiness. Learn which common members of the arum plant family might thrive in your region and hardiness zone.
It is native to the Mediterranean region and has naturalized in many places. Arum, (genus Arum), genus of about 32 species of low-growing tuberous perennial plants in the family Araceae. Several are cultivated as ornamentals in mild climates, and plants of the genus are not hardy much below freezing temperatures.
Arum Growing and Care Guide
In most cases the spathe is a dull yellow-green outside, but it may be varicoloured and often curves back to expose the inner surface. The Arum genus, part of the Araceae family, consists of about 25 species of perennial plants. The attractive and often spotted or variegated foliage also contributes to their ornamental appeal. Arum plants prefer partial to full shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. They are excellent for woodland gardens or shady borders.
Not reliably winter hardy throughout USDA Zone 5 where it should be planted in a protected location. New leaves emerge in autumn and are evergreen in warm winter climates. However, in cold winter climates such as the St. Louis area, the leaves die in winter with new leaves emerging in early spring. 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. The flowers are produced in a spadix, surrounded by a 4 to 16 inches (10 to 40-cm) long, colored spathe, which may be white, yellow, brown, or purple.
Are members of the Arum plant genus fragrant?
Italian arum is native to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It is considered invasive in some parts of the United States because it is difficult to control and spreads rapidly. The genus name, Arum, is a Greek term meaning “poisonous.” The species name, italicum, is Latin for “Italian.” Most gardeners know at least one Arum, probably Arum italicum. This charming woodland plant can be bought cheaply in garden centers and nurseries as either a bulb or a growing plant.
Some Arum species produce a pungent smell to attract pollinators, but they are not typically fragrant in a traditional sense. 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.