Arum
( AR - rum )
At-A-Glance Information
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Commonly called Arum Lilies, these perennial flowers grow from tubers in partial or full shade, and need regular waterings during growth and flowering periods. Leaves are arrow-shaped and attractively veined with white or cream. Stalks will produce a colored bract that encloses a spadix of tiny flowers that are sometimes fragrant. Blossoms are followed by dense fruit clusters that are typically bright red. These fruits last even after the leaves of the plant have faded. Arum is great for shady border areas of the garden or as a tropical-type groundcover. Take care when planting these flowers in your garden, as physical contact can be irritating and the plant is toxic if ingested.
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Arum Species and Varietals
The genus Arum includes around 30 species and is a member of the plant family Araceae. Although they are commonly called Arum Lilies, these plants are not closely related to the genus Lilium. Arum is more closely related to the genus Zantedeschia, a genus whose plants are also commonly called Arum Lilies. The best growing zones for Arum depend on the species; for more information, read the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Arum apulum (Apulian Arum) This species is endemic to Italy, and is threatened by habitat loss in its natural range. |
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Arum besserianum This species of Arum Lily is native to southern Poland and northwestern Ukraine. Spathe is commonly light green to cream in color. |
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Arum coccinatum (Crete Arum) This species of Arum Lily is found naturally in wet areas and olive groves in southwestern Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean islands. |
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Arum creticum (Cretan Arum) This species is native to the Greek island Crete, southwestern Turkey, and the eastern Aegean Islands. It is semi-evergreen, and forms a clump of foliage. Flowers are fragrant and spathes are cream to white. Fruit is red to orange. This species of Arum Lily reaches about 20 inches tall when in bloom. |
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Arum cylindraceum This woodland species of Arum Lily produces leaves in early springtime, followed by flowers protected within a green spathe. Berries are bright red. This species is native to most of Europe. |
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Arum dioscoridis (Spotted Arum) This species of Arum Lily is native to southern Turkey, Cypress, Greece, and the Middle East. It was first described by James Edward Smith in the publication Flora Graeca, and is named after the ancient Greek physician and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides. Leaves appear in wintertime, and flowers on a short stem appear in spring. The spathe is yellow-green, with dark red to maroon mottling in the throat. |
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Arum hygrophilum This species is found in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, and Morocco. The spathe on these plants is cream to white, with a deep red to maroon lining. |
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Arum italicum (Italian Arum, Italian Lords-and-Ladies) Grows best in zones 2-24; native to southern and western Europe. Leaves sprout in fall or early winter, and short stems hold white (sometimes greenish or with purple spots) bracts in spring and summer, followed by orange-red fruits. Leaves die to the ground after blooms fade, and plants will naturally multiply by volunteer seedlings. Variety 'Marmoratum' ('Pictum') has leaves with white veining. |
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Arum maculatum (Adam and Eve, Adder's Meat, Adder's Root, Cuckoo Plant, Naked Boys, Snakeshead, Starch-Root, Wake-Robin) This species, native to Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus, grows in woodland areas and along riversides. Varieties include Arum maculatum maculatum (with purple-spotted leaves) and Arum maculatum immaculatum (with green leaves). Berries that follow blooms are orange-red. |
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Arum nigrum (Black Arum) This species produces a large underground tuber, from which it produces glossy green arrow-shaped leaves and flowers surrounded by a dark maroon to black spathe. These flowers are native to the Balkan Peninsula and northern Greece. |
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Arum palaestinum (Black Calla, Solomon's Lily, Priest's Hood, Noo'ah Loof, Kardi) This native of Israel grows best in zones 14-24. Leaves emerge in winter, spathe opens outward to reveal a purple interior and black spadix. Flowers bloom in spring and early summer, and then leaves die back to the ground. This species is best known for its long history of use as a food in the Middle East and for its use in traditional Middle Eastern medicine. |
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Arum pictum This native of the Mediterranean grows best in zones 7-9 and 14-24. Spathe is violet with a white base and encloses a dark purple spadix. Flowers bloom in fall, and light green leaves have white veining. Foliage dies to the ground in hot weather. |
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Arum sintenisii (Sintenis Arum) This species is native to uncultivated Olive Tree groves in northern Cyprus and southwestern Turkey. It is able to survive mild winters without dying back to the ground, and produces a purple spathe around a purple spadix at leaf height. |
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Caring for Arum
Tubers should be planted in well-draining soil in late summer or early fall, set 8-12 inches apart and 4-6 inches deep.
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Gallery
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A field of thea sinensis
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Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'
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Videos
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A video all about growing camellias successfully
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 172, Arum
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