Care of Arum Italicum

Requirements

• Italian arum needs full sun or light shade and a rich, organic soil that holds moisture well. Add compost or well-rotted livestock manure before planting if your soil doesn’t contain ample organic matter. Provide afternoon shade in areas where summers are hot. The plants are winter-hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 through 9.

Planting

• Italian arum grows from buttonlike tubers planted in spring or fall. Bury the tubers 3 inches deep in rich, moist soil and space them 12 inches apart. Italian arum also grows well from seeds planted in the fall. Place the seeds about four inches apart and cover them with a thin layer of soil. When seedlings emerge, thin them to 12 inches apart. If you prefer to start the seeds indoors, begin 10 to 12 weeks before you plan to transplant them outdoors. Plant them in groups rather than rows for the best effect. Good garden companions include astilbe, galanthus, hosta, liriope and ferns.

Maintenance

• Surround Italian arum with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to keep the soil cool and moist. Water from early spring until fall, keeping the soil evenly moist. Stop watering in winter. Fertilize the plants in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer. Arum foliage attracts slugs, and the leaves sit close to the ground, providing an easily accessible meal. Watch for signs of chewing around the edges of the foliage and use a combination of hand removal and slug bait to eliminate the pests.

Propagation

• Propagate by dividing the plants in summer after the foliage withers. Use a shovel or spade to separate the plant, or dig up the entire plant and separate the tubers. Divide plants only when they are at least 3 years old and well-established. You can also propagate your Italian arum by harvesting fully ripe berries. Separate the seeds from the flesh and plant them in the fall.