Italian arum is a pretty plant with dark side. It is toxic and can be invasive. Learn the best ways to remove this aggressive grower.
Remove Invasive Italian Arum Plants From Your Yard
Updated on Oct. 02, 2024
On This Page
What Does Italian Arum Look Like?
“Could you identify this plant in my flower bed? The green foliage comes up in November and stays until June, then dies down. Around August, stalks with clusters of red berries emerge and stay a couple of months,” asks reader David Denlinger of Arcanum, Ohio.
Garden expert Melinda Myers says, “Your plant is an Italian arum (Arum italicum) that grows in clumps from corms. Your description of its growth habit is typical for this plant. Leaves may die back in winter in areas with colder weather, and new leaves may sprout in spring.
Watch for the hooded flowers similar to a peace lily or jack-in-the-pulpit that appear before the red berries you observed.
Is Italian Arum Invasive?
“As pretty as it is,” Melinda says, “Italian arum is considered invasive in some states and has been found invading woodland areas in the southwestern part of your home state, Ohio. Carefully dig and remove all the tubers when trying to eliminate this plant from the garden. Any piece of the tuber left in the ground can start a new plant, so persistence is important for success.”
Get Rid of Italian Arum Plants
“A plant called Italian arum is taking over my yard. I have tried everything to get rid of it. Can you give me some advice?” asks Pat Dinsmore of Umpqua, Oregon.
Melinda says, “This beauty is considered an invasive weed in Oregon and several other states. It was introduced as an ornamental perennial, but its ability to quickly reproduce by underground tubers and seeds has allowed it to spread and take over gardens, lawns and natural areas.
Any piece of the tuber that remains in the soil survives and grows. Several chemicals have been tested in Washington; some killed the foliage but had variable impact on the roots.
Bag any seeds, tubers and soil that you remove and throw them in the trash if your municipality allows. Do not compost the plant debris or move infested soil from one location to another.
Contact your local county extension service to ask about the latest control recommendations for your area.”
Is Italian Arum Poisonous?
According to Melinda, all parts of this plant are highly toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses.
About the Expert
Melinda Myers is the official gardening expert for Birds & Blooms. She is a TV/radio host, author and columnist who has written more than 20 gardening books. Melinda earned a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sources
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Arum italicum
- Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board – Italian arum
