Arum italicum marmoratum (pictum)
Arum italicum is native to Europe, from England to Cyprus to the Canary Isles. It has a wide range of traditional names in Britain including Lords and Ladies, Cuckoo Pint, Jack in the Pulpit. The life cycle is somewhat uncommon, in that leaves come in autumn, staying throughout the winter, and then withering with the “flower”, leaving the seed head standing bare through the summer. It is none-the-less a excellent garden plant, as its leaves are a wonderful, dark, glossy spear-head shape, over a foot long. In the case of A. italicum armoratum (pictum) they are marbled, with white when they first emerge, maturing to cream, and have wavy edges, making exceptionally good ground cover. Amongst the leaves in Spring a spathe (a form of bract) grows around a spadix, which is covered with minute white flowers, which are very attractive to all sorts of insects. As the spathe dies following pollination, so do the leaves, and the spadix is left to produce bright green berries that turn scarlet. These berries may be poisonous, so care should be taken with young children, but blackbirds love them! The mature leaf lasts a long time in flower arrangements. Arums prefer moist shade, but will grow in the sun where they will form clumps readily, but is happy with a dry summer during dormancy.
Planting instructions
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in part shade, or even full sun. Forms clumps. |
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