Arum maculatum - Cuckoo-pint

Arum maculatum, also known as Arum or Spotted Arum, is a wild plant that can be found in the undergrowth in many regions, but less commonly in the Mediterranean area where it is replaced by its close relative, Arum italicum, or Italian Arum. Its decorative foliage appears early in spring and disappears in the middle of summer. It is often spotted with dark brown. Its flowering, typical of the arum family, takes the form of a greenish spathe with a violet spadix. The fruiting, in late summer, consists of a cluster of bright red berries that are decorative. This unusual perennial, toxic in all its parts, slowly colonizes humus-rich soils that are not too dry at the base of bushes and other small trees.

Arum maculatum is a long-tubered perennial also known as Lords-and-Ladies or Cuckoo-pint. This plant, belonging to the arum family, is native to Europe and the Caucasus. It grows spontaneously in woodland, in humus, on deep soils that are generally clay-limestone, not too dry in summer. This species tolerates competition from other undergrowth plants quite poorly, which sometimes makes its cultivation delicate in gardens. At maturity, the plant will reach an average height of 35cm (14in), spreading thanks to its underground stem. Triangular leaves with a rubbery lamina, bright green and shiny, frequently adorned with dark spots, emerge from its tuber in March. They will wither in July-August. Flowering takes place in May, in the form of a large whitish spathe that conceals a fleshy axis called the spadix, which is light violet in colour. This inflorescence has the peculiarity of emitting heat and diffusing an odour of excrement intended to attract small flies that ensure pollination. The flowering is followed by the formation of round and fleshy fruits, shiny, orange-red, 5 to 7mm in diameter, tightly packed against each other.

A shade-loving perennial that thrives in moist, humus-rich soils, Arum maculatum is interesting for carpeting the base of shrub or tree borders in a garden that embraces nature. It can be associated with ferns, hostas, and bleeding hearts. However, care should be taken not to associate it with overly vigorous plants that could smother it. It will also thrive near a water source, as long as the soil is not waterlogged all year round. It can also be planted en masse along a north-east facing wall if the soil doesn't dry out too much.

Note: all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested due to the crystals of oxalates, saponins, and various alkaloids found in the leaves, fruits, and rhizome. The use in phytotherapy is reserved for professionals.