Arum maculatum

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Other common names

Aaron, Adam and Eve, adder's meat, adder's root, arrowroot, bloody man's finger, bobbin' Joan, bobbing Jane, bobbins, boys and girls, brown dragons, bulls and cows, calf's foot, cobbler's thumb, cocky baby, cuckoo pint, devil's ladies and gentlemen, devil's men and women, English passion flower, friar's cowl, Gethsemane, jack-in-a-box, jack-in-the-pulpit, Kitty-come-down-the-lane, lamb in a pulpit, lily grass, mandrake, naked ladies, nightingales, parson and clerk, parson in the pulpit, Portland arrowroot, Portland sago plant, Portland starchroot, priest's pintle, rampe, snake's victuals, starch flower, starch plant, wake-robin, pidyn y gog

Herbaceous Perennial
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A compact tuberous perennial to about 45cm with arrow-shaped shiny green leaves often with black spots. Variable pale green to purple flushed spathes appear in late spring, followed by spikes bearing orange-red berries in the autumn. Foliage dies down by midsummer

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Araceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Potentially harmful
TOXIC if eatenskin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Arum are tuberous perennials with simple, arrow-head shaped leaves and tiny flowers hidden, at the base of a yellow or purple, club-shaped spadix, within a showy, hood-like spathe, and followed by red berries
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil and plant 10 to 15cm deep in light shade. Easily spread by seed, and fragments of tuber, so may need controlling in some areas. A good plant for wildlife - see lords-and-ladies for more information

Propagation

Propagate by division of tubers when dormant after flowering. Propagate by seed, sow seeds as soon as ripe in the autumn having removed the fleshy pulp, use gloves

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free