Arum

Family Araceae. Name: derives from the Ancient Greek word "aron" - the name of one of the species of this genus.

Description: it is a plant of shady forests of Southern Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus, and one species grows in Central Asia. All arums vegetate only from early spring until mid-summer, then the leaves die. They flower in mid-spring; in the central part of Russia - in May. In August, when the seeds ripen, the red spadices again give the plants ornamental value. Arums are long-lived perennial herbs with a thick tuberous rhizome and basal leaves shaped like a spearhead. Of the 26 species known to science, 2 are found in the wild in Western Europe. These are Italian arum (A. italicum) and spotted arum (A maculatum). On the territory of the former USSR, 5 species of arums were recorded.

Location: grown in shade under a layer of leaf litter. In winter, covering with leaves is desirable.

Soil: should be well-drained, fertile, without excess moisture (especially for the elongated arum).

Propagation: vegetatively (by rhizomes), by transplanting at the end of summer and by seeds (sowing before winter); it self-seeds. Tubers are planted at a depth of 8 cm at a distance of 30-45 cm. The elongated arum is difficult to propagate by rhizomes, as it spreads very slowly.

Uses: in the middle zone the spotted and elongated arums are the most promising. They are very good for planting in shaded rock gardens.