Look who’s popping up in one of our shady corners, on cue, in mid October. This Ellen Hornig selection of Spotted Arum (named for the wonderful gardener, Pamela Harper) has stunning white marbled foliage edged in dark green throughout the winter, even when temperatures dip well below freezing. It does send up a flower spathe in spring, which will be followed by orange fruit that encases the seeds. The foliage is summer dormant, so you may forget that it’s in your garden until fall arrives when once again the new growth emerges.
Arum italicum ‘Pamela Harper’ is hardy in zones 5a-10. It prefers well drained soil in dappled shade. Foliage height is 6-10″ tall. Not especially fast growing for us in a northern climate, but the bulbous roots produce little offsets which can be lifted and divided to spread about your garden.
Do note that all parts of this plant are poisonous.