Arum italicum ‘Marmoratum’

Here’s an unusual, exotic yet hardy plant for the shady garden: Arum italicum ‘Marmoratum’. Desired for its large, arrow-shaped, glossy, extra mottled foliage of green and creamy white from fall to spring. Flowers (spathes), similar to Jack-in-the-Pulpit, of greenish-yellow, appear in spring then evolve into showy spikes of tight clusters of shiny orange-red berries in summer. Dormant summer foliage emerges in fall. Excellent in shady beds and borders, under planting shrubs or roses. Disease and pest-free. Easy to maintain. Arum italicum has been identified as invasive in BC, the PNW, California, and parts of the eastern US. While there are examples of good behaviour in gardens over decades there are also examples of it running wild where conditions are right. It can spread by rhizomes and seed. While it could be grown safely in city gardens, it should be avoided if you live near natural ecosystems.