Arisarum proboscideum - Mouse Plant

Nicknamed the "mouse plant", Arisarum proboscideum is a small bulbous plant that produces curious white and brown flowers in spring, with a long spur resembling a mouse's tail.

Native to southern Europe, Arisarum proboscideum forms a ground-covering carpet of green leaves in early spring, which are shiny and arrow-shaped with long petioles, measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) long. The flowers are often hidden by the foliage and bloom in April-May. They consist of a two-toned spathe, red-brown and white at the base, with a long thread-like tip resembling a mouse's tail. Like many bulbous plants, the foliage turns yellow in mid-summer and the plant enters dormancy.

The mouse plant is very easy to grow and thrives in shady locations in any light and moist soil without excessive water. It also adapts well to container gardening. Plant your Arisarum bulbs in shady rockeries or borders, alongside grape hyacinths, fairy flowers, bleeding hearts, and coral bells.