Arum italicum

Description:
When most of everything is dormant in winter here is this little lovely patch of deep glossy green with white veining or marbleing. Elongated arrow shaped leaves to 20 cm in length are held just above the soil. In mid Spring a creamy flowering spathe appears and by mid summer the leaves die back as the plant enters quazi dormancy as there are no leaves but the spathe gives way to small dense spikes of berries. The berries ripen to a bright glossy orange by the time the leaves appear again mid September. Its quite a lovely contrast.

Notes:
We don't feed these plants as I've been told that over fertilizing reduces the leaf marbeling. It seems to like a good dose of half composted bark mulch. Will spread if it loves its spot of semi sun and moisture retentive soil. Will tolerate lots of winter sun.

Cultivation:
Soak seed 24-36 hours then sow 6-8 mm deep in wider than narrow nursery pot filled with humus rich moisture retentive medium with a 1 cm deep sowing layer of coarse sand. I germinated this species for the first time this year...and it seems to follow a set pattern for plants of this type (winter emerging foliage such as hardy Cyclamen) where the seed germinates and pushes out its tops late summer to early autumn. So don't expect it to sprout instantly when you sow it. Just make sure the pot of seeds don't dry out. A layer of fine mulch will be beneficial. Also keep the pot in semi shade.