Plants in genus arum
Arum concinnatum
Arum concinnatum is a unique member of the arum family, native to Crete and the eastern Mediterranean. It features hastate-shaped, glossy green leaves with silver spotting, which emerge in the fall and remain through winter. In early spring, it produces a fleshy spadix with an unpleasant odor, followed by a stalk of red berries. This plant thrives in moist woodlands and dry hillsides, preferring part sun to light shade. It is known for its tropical-looking foliage and is summer dormant, requiring no supplemental moisture during this period. Arum concinnatum is not suited for deep shade and naturalizes slowly in woodland areas.
Arum dioscoridis
Arum dioscoridis is a plant from Cyprus with large, dark green, spade-shaped leaves and spathe and spadix inflorescences in late April. The spathes are creamy yellow with dark purple spots, and the plant emits a pungent smell to attract flies for pollination.
Arum italicum
Arum italicum is a unique perennial plant known for its striking silvery leaves with green borders and its ability to produce heat through its inflorescence. Native to regions including the British Isles and the Mediterranean, it grows up to 18 inches tall and blooms in spring with white flowers that turn into red fruit. This plant is cultivated for ornamental purposes but can be invasive in some areas like the Pacific Northwest USA. It is important to note that all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested. Arum italicum has several subspecies and cultivars, with 'Marmoratum' being recognized for its garden merit. It is often used in shaded garden areas and can hybridize with other Arum species.
Arum orientale ssp. orientale
Arum orientale ssp. orientale is a plant native to the Black Sea region, thriving in moist soils along forest edges and in full sun. It features a maroon spathe with a white spadix and flowers in early April, becoming dormant in summer.
Arum hygrophilum
Arum hygrophilum is a flowering plant native to Israel, Cyprus, and the Syrian-Lebanon border. It features narrow, upright, light green leaves and pale green spathes edged in purple. This plant grows in moist environments and is threatened by agricultural development.
Arum purpureospathum
Arum purpureospathum, discovered in southwest Crete, features green arrow-like leaves that emerge in fall and go dormant in summer. It produces 10-inch tall inflorescences with a dark purple spathe and spadix in late spring. This plant is exceptionally drought-tolerant.
Arum palaestinum
Arum palaestinum is a flowering herbaceous perennial native to the Levant and Mediterranean Basin. Known for its dark purplish-black spadix enclosed by a reddish-brown spathe, it blooms in spring and is used in traditional Arabic medicine. This plant is toxic due to oxalate salts and prefers dry sites with good drainage.
Arum italicum 'Silver Vein Pattern'
Arum italicum 'Silver Vein Pattern' is a tropical aroid with glossy green, arrowhead-shaped leaves featuring dramatic silver patterning. It produces white flowers in late spring and red berries, adding seasonal interest. This plant naturalizes in woodland areas and is dormant in summer, re-emerging in late August.
Arum rupicola var. virescens
Arum rupicola var. virescens is a plant native to Central Turkey and Azerbaijan, known for its narrow green arrow-shaped foliage. It produces 3-foot tall inflorescences with a greenish-white spathe edged in purple and a purple-stained spadix. This plant thrives in dry shade and part sun, making it a versatile choice for various garden settings. Its unique appearance and adaptability to different light conditions add to its appeal, making it a popular choice for gardeners seeking unusual plants.
Arum concinnatum 'Far And Away'
Arum concinnatum 'Far And Away' is a unique plant with heavily silver-patterned leaves and large chartreuse green flowers with purple staining. Collected by Alan Galloway, it blooms in mid-May, adding a striking visual element to gardens. Its distinctive foliage and flowers make it a noteworthy addition to any plant collection.
Arum creticum 'Fcc Form'
Arum creticum 'Fcc Form' is a winter-hardy plant native to Crete and Turkey, known for its early autumn green spade-like leaves. It forms 18-inch tall clumps with creamy yellow spathes and a mustard-yellow spadix in early spring, emitting a lemon aroma. This plant is slow to multiply but offers a unique floral display.
Arum italicum 'White Winter'
Arum italicum 'White Winter' features dark green leaves with dramatic silver veins that emerge in late September and go dormant in summer. It produces large, translucent greenish-white spathe and spadix flowers, followed by stalks of red fruit, adding seasonal interest to shaded garden areas.
Arum italicum 'Apulum'
Arum italicum 'Apulum' is a natural hybrid with purplish-red petiole bases and dark green leaves featuring paler green mottling. It produces a 4-inch wide yellow-green spathe, adding a unique touch to shaded garden areas. This plant is well-suited for dry shade and xeriscaping.
Arum italicum 'Blotched Leaf Form'
Arum italicum 'Blotched Leaf Form' is a perennial with dark green arrowhead-shaped leaves featuring silver blotches. It produces 12-inch white flowers in late spring, followed by a stalk of red berries. This plant naturalizes slowly in woodland areas and goes dormant in summer.
Arum italicum 'Zebra Stripes'
Arum italicum 'Zebra Stripes' features large, glossy green leaves with silver veins and marbling. Its foliage emerges in early October, and it produces greenish flowers in April. This plant goes dormant in summer and is well-suited for shaded garden areas.
Arum sintenisii
Arum sintenisii is a tuberous herb native to Cyprus, known for its large arrow-shaped green leaves and purple-stained white spathe. It thrives in damp shade and open woodlands, making it a unique ornamental plant for gardens with its distinctive foliage and flowers.
Arum cyrenaicum 'Concinnatum'
Arum cyrenaicum 'Concinnatum' is a striking plant with black petioles and silver-veined, dark green, arrow-shaped leaves. It features random dark black spots and produces 1-foot tall inflorescences of translucent pink. The foliage goes dormant in summer, making it a unique addition to any garden.
Arum italicum 'Spot On'
Arum italicum 'Spot On' is a unique plant introduced in 2021, featuring pointed green leaves with large black spots. It forms a clump about 1 foot tall and wide, with green inflorescences in April and red fruit stalks in mid-spring. This plant is summer dormant and adds a touch of intrigue to shaded gardens.
Arum italicum 'Scottish Silver'
Arum italicum 'Scottish Silver' is a plant selection from Scotland, known for its silver marbling on slightly narrower leaves. It grows up to 20 inches tall and produces greenish spathes in early May. The foliage goes dormant in early May, adding a seasonal interest to gardens.
Arum italicum 'Pdn Clouded Forms'
Arum italicum 'Pdn Clouded Forms' is a rare variety with green leaves featuring a silver-clouded pattern. This plant flowers and sets seed in late spring before going dormant in summer, and it can thrive in average to very dry soil conditions.
Arum italicum 'Silverella'
Arum italicum 'Silverella' is an Italian arum with striking foliage, featuring a wide dark green border and a silver center. The plant's foliage emerges in early October, and it produces green flowers in mid-April. It prefers deciduous shade to part sun and requires soil that dries out slightly during dormancy.