Tribe Areae Rank Species | Subfamily Aroideae Genus Arum Higher classification Arum Lilies | |
Similar Arum Lilies, Arum maculatum, Arum, Arisarum, Ajuga reptans | ||
Arum italicum is a species of flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the family Araceae, also known as Italian arum and Italian lords-and-ladies. It is native to the Mediterranean region (southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East) plus Great Britain, the Netherlands, Crimea, Caucasus, Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. It is also naturalized in Argentina and in scattered locations in the United States.
It grows 30–46 cm (1–1.5 ft) high, with equal spread. It blooms in spring with white flowers that turn to showy red fruit. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant for traditional and woodland shade gardens. Some gardeners use this arum to underplant with hosta, as they produce foliage sequentially; when the hosta withers away, the arum replaces it, leaving the ground covered. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which A. italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
A. italicum can be invasive in some areas.
A. italicum may hybridize with Arum maculatum.
In 1778, Lamarck noticed that the inflorescence of this plant produces heat.
Arum italicum pictum italian arum
