Arum lily is a shade-loving herbaceous perennial and a member of the Araceae family. It was cultivated as an ornamental plant. This plant spreads quickly by self-seeding. It has deep-rooted tubers that multiply each year and are difficult to remove. All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans and animals. The plant can cause skin irritation and illness. The fruits are harmless to birds. They eat the berries and disperse the seeds. Wild Arum is native of Europe to West Turkey and the West Caucasus. They are found in woodlands and along rivers and streams. The genus name, Arum , is Greek and means "poisonous." Wild Arum has many other common names that reference the plant's appearance. The plant grows in the shade and prefers moist well-drained soils. The plant's mature size is 12-18 inches tall and 6-9 inches wide. They flower in the spring and produce bright orangish-red berries in the fall. They are propagated by seeds and by the division of the tubers. The leaves are arrow-shaped, glossy, mid to deep green with purplish-black blotches. The hood-like flowers appear in April and May. The flower has a deep purple to pale yellow central spadix and is surrounded by a pale green spathe The interior of the spathe is greenish-white with a purple band. The fruit is a cylinder-like cluster of orangish-red berries. The berries remain after the spathe and leaves have withered away. The plant contains calcium oxalates. If ingested, it will cause throat and tongue swelling that results in difficulty breathing or possible death. Be sure to wear protective clothing and gloves when handling this plant to prevent skin irritation. The Arum Lily is pollinated by insects that are attracted to the odor of the flowers. The Arum Lily may be used as an ornamental in shade gardens, borders, and woodlands. When considering this plant, remember that it is poisonous to humans and pets. It will also spread quickly and is very difficult to remove. Quick ID Hints: tuberous root system arrow-shaped, mid to deep green, glossy leaves with purplish-black blotches the flowers have an erect deep purple to a pale yellow spadix the spadix is surrounded by a pale green spathe with a greenish-white interior with a purple band the flower has an odor cylinder-like spike of orangish-red berries Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: The plant is very difficult to control. Manual removal may be difficult. When removed, all parts of the plant should be disposed of in the trash. Avoid placing the plant in the compost bin. Wear protective clothing and gloves when handling this plant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong; Obtuse
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are large arrow-shaped, mid to deep green with purplish-black patches. The leaves measure 3 to 11 inches tall and 1 to 7.5 inches wide.
Flower color
Green; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spadix
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
The flowers bloom in April and May. The flower has a central, erect, deep purple to pale yellow spadix that measures 1 to 3.5 inches tall and about 0.25 inches wide. The spadix is surrounded by a pale to mid-green spathe. The interior spathe is greenish-white with a narrow purple band around the middle of the spathe. The spathe measure about 2.5 to 11 inches tall.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
After the flowers fade and the leaves wither, the fruits develop. The fruit is an oblong cylinder and measures 1 to 2 inches tall and 0.5 inches wide. The cylinder has a cluster of orangish-red berries.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe to North Turkey and West Caucasus
Distribution
Native: Albania, Austria Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: Denmark
Wildlife value
Birds eat the seeds. Pollinated by flies.
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Shade
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots
Harvest time
Fall
Edibility
The root is edible when roasted. It is very toxic if not correctly prepared.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The plant root was used to make laundry starch.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Houseplants; Woodland
Landscape theme
Shade Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#poisonous #problem for dogs #spadix #contact dermatitis #poisonous if ingested #spathe #problem for children #shade garden #red fruits #problem for cats #weedy
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
All raw parts of this plant may cause mucous membrane irritation, burning, throat swelling, difficulty breathing, and possible death. Other symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, cramping, excessive drooling, and vomiting.