CJ's Arum Page

The genus Arum is a small group of about 25 species of small plants from the Mediterranean region of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. They mostly have plain green, arrow or lance-shaped leaves, large potato like underground corms, and typical “spathe and spadix” blooms. By and large, Arums are hardy, robust, and easy plants, especially in California’s Central Valley, and they have very decorative leaves and blooms. But their most note-worthy characteristic is their unusual “backwards” lifestyle – the sprout in the fall, grow all winter, and die down in the spring – just the reverse of most garden plants. This makes them ideal for the home garden, as they provide greenery and lushness in the middle of winter, just when you need it most! These guys are tough, frost hardy and reproduce themselves readily. I am surprised that more people do not grow them! Hopefully I can help change that.
This site got up and running in February of 2003, so most of my Arums are not yet blooming. Stay tuned for flower pictures!

Most of my Arums live in 5-gallon pots on my South- facing patio, where they thrive. They love sun, and we get plenty of it, even in the wintertime.

The most common Arum in cultivation is the Italian Arum, Arum italicum. This attractive plant has pretty, silver streaked leaves that catch the light all winter. In the summer it makes short spikes of bright orange berries that really lighten up a yard.

Arum hygrophilum is a thinner, more upright plant, with a light, lime green color. It makes dainty green blooms with a pale lavender spadix inside.

Arum pictum is a short, fleshy plant with broad, heart- shaped leaves and very short stems. It has a wonderful glossy sheen and light purple edging on the leaf margins. This is the only fall-blooming Arum, and blooms just as the new leaves are emerging in the autumn.

Many Arums are quite striking when they bloom, and Arum dioscoridis is one of the showiest. This is a particularly dark specimen, with blackish spots on a deep purple background. The smell is similar to hot compost or fresh horse dung – you definitely know when this guy is in flower!

Here are the species of Arum that I am growing right now.

CJ's Arum Page The genus Arum is a small group of about 25 species of small plants from the Mediterranean region of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. They mostly have plain green, arrow or lance-shaped leaves, large potato like underground corms, and typical “spathe and spadix” blooms. By and large, Arums are hardy, robust, and easy plants, especially in California’s Central Valley, and they have very decorative leaves and blooms. But their most note-worthy characteristic is their unusual “backwards” lifestyle – the sprout in the fall, grow all winter, and die down in the spring – just the reverse of most garden plants. This makes them ideal for the home garden, as they provide greenery and lushness in the middle of winter, just when you need it most! These guys are tough, frost hardy and reproduce themselves readily. I am surprised that more people do not grow them! Hopefully I can help change that. This site got up and running in February of 2003, so most of my Arums are not yet blooming. Stay tuned for flower pictures!
	Most of my Arums live in 5-gallon pots on my South- facing patio, where they thrive. They love sun, and we get plenty of it, even in the wintertime.
The most common Arum in cultivation is the Italian Arum, Arum italicum. This attractive plant has pretty, silver streaked leaves that catch the light all winter. In the summer it makes short spikes of bright orange berries that really lighten up a yard.
	Arum hygrophilum is a thinner, more upright plant, with a light, lime green color. It makes dainty green blooms with a pale lavender spadix inside.
	Arum pictum is a short, fleshy plant with broad, heart- shaped leaves and very short stems. It has a wonderful glossy sheen and light purple edging on the leaf margins. This is the only fall-blooming Arum, and blooms just as the new leaves are emerging in the autumn.
Many Arums are quite striking when they bloom, and Arum dioscoridis is one of the showiest. This is a particularly dark specimen, with blackish spots on a deep purple background. The smell is similar to hot compost or fresh horse dung – you definitely know when this guy is in flower!
Here are the species of Arum that I am growing right now.