searched for hours - your turn :-)

2 years ago

I live in NJ - it is now mid-December and this plant usually does not emerge until early spring (I took this photo today). It is normally the first plant to emerge in my yard, usually around the time that the bulbs are well into bloom. It is several years old and for some reason did not emerge last spring - but now 'pre-winter' in the NE, it has come very much into life - while the rest of the yard is 'dead'. Then, normally, in late spring the flowers come up. I always called it a 'hot-poker', but my research indicates that is not correct - none of the varieties has these large leaves. That said, could it be there is a hot poker underneath this 'leaf-only' plant and I just presume it is coming from the plant with these huge leaves? That would be quite coincidental, but I guess possible. It is quite unique, and I have nothing else like it in my yard. Also, it does not propagate, nor grow any larger than what you see here - and does not send out any shoots beyond its footprint.

Featured Answer

floraluk2

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Arum italicum 'Pictum'. The 'pokers' are the fruit and the reason it is invasive in some places. You must have missed the flowers which are a green sheath with a purple flower within. It is summer dormant.

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Comments (9)

dvd94
Original Author
2 years ago
That's it!! 5 year mystery solved. :-) Thank you! I did not know it was poisonous or invasive - like I mentioned, it never gets any bigger than what you see in the photo. I have no idea how it found its home in my raised bed - but I have enjoyed it for years. thanks, again!
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peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
2 years ago
The roots are rhizomatous and will spread but if you remove the seed heads before they ripen (red when ripe) that will help contain it from popping up in your yard or elsewhere.
dvd94 thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
floraluk2
2 years ago
It produces tubers rather than rhizomes. Bits break off easily and it spreads that way, as well as by seed.
dvd94 thanked floraluk2
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
2 years ago
Yes many sites mention rhizomes, corms & tubers. It seems there is a lot of different info but all agree it is tough to eradicate.
dvd94 thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
dvd94
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks all - so glad my little cutie is content just living by itself and not invading any other space! I never touch the flowers or anything (now that I know they are poisonous, I definitely won't touch it!!) :-)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
While one can develop a mild skin irritation to this plant if sensitive, it is really only 'poisonous' if ingested. I would keep pets and small children away from any of the attractive/appealing berries that develop but I wouldn't hesitate to remove the berries or spent flowers either. They are more likely to be the source of the plant's spread than by other means.
dvd94 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
2 years ago
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6395068/such-a-neat-discovery-with-our-arum#28655281
dvd94 thanked rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
dvd94
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks, rouge21 - I agree with that post: I've never seen another in my yard, in the 3-4 years that it's been there - and it has never gotten any bigger than what it is - and I did not plant it (have no idea how it got there). However, that isn't too surprising, actually. For years I had a huge tree in my tiny postage stamp sized yard - and try as I might, nothing grew, not even grass. The tree was so huge it split in two. I was kind of happy - even though I felt like I was suddenly living in the desert - knowing I can start buying 'real' perennials again. Well, the following spring came along and things started popping up all over the place!! Some things I remember planting years prior - other things I hadn't a clue where they came from! Thanks.