Arum italicum ‘Pictum’
painted arum
araceaeSpear-shaped, variegated deep green
leaves; orange-red berries;
jack-in-the-pulpit-type flowers
12–20 in. high; 18 in. wide
Part shade–full shade
Blooms May
Zones 5–9
pruning Painted arum may require
deadleafing when foliage dies down in
summer to tidy up the area and allow
the attractive fruit to be best displayed.
Often this entails simply pulling leaves
out gently by hand as they shrivel away.
Do not deadhead, or you will lose one
of the prime features of the plant: the
ornamental fruit. When the fruit
decline the stems usually become limp
and are hidden by returning autumn
foliage, so pruning of stems generally
is not needed. Plants are evergreen or
semi-evergreen, depending on the
climate—do not cut back in the
autumn. May need a bit of deadleafing
in the spring so as to not detract from
healthy foliage.other maintenance Best in moist
shady sites with soil high in organic
matter. Tolerates drier soils when the
leaves are dormant during the summer.
Summer is also the best time to divide
the plants, but this usually is not
necessary for many years (6–10 years).Beautiful low-maintenance plant. Slow
to take hold, but long-lived once
established. Considered to be on the
hardiness borderline in zone 5, often
listed as zone 6–9, but has tolerated our
Midwest winters, though it often dies
down and comes back in the spring.Aruncus dioicus
goat’s beard
r oSaceae
Plumelike creamy flowers; pinnately
compound astilbelike foliage
4–6 ft. high; 6 ft. wide
Part shade
Blooms June–July
Zones 3–7
pruning The plants are dioecious
(male and female flowers borne on
separate plants), and although the
male flowers are more attractive in
bloom, the female seedpods are more
attractive for the winter—what a
dilemma! Nurseries do not distinguish
between the sexes anyway, so you
usually don’t get a choice. The
deadheads may weigh down the
foliage, which is an obvious sign that
deadheading would improve the
overall appearance of the plant.
Deadleafing may be required if
scorching or dry conditions are a
problem. Self-seeding may occur
where male and female plants are
grown together, but it is seldom
troublesome.
other maintenance Staking is
not needed, but heavy rain when the
plant is in flower will weigh the great
plumes to the ground. Best in
moisture-retentive soil. Will take full
sun in cool summer climates. Toler-
ates tree root competition if soils are
high in moisture or in areas with
heavy rainfall, although the competi-
tion will curb the plant’s size.
Although rarely required (every 10
years or more) and difficult to accom-
plish, division is recommended in the
spring. Tough roots. Not for use in
areas warmer than zone 6, where
performance is poor as a result of the
heat. It is slow growing in the first
season or two, but once it takes hold,Arum italicum ‘Pictum’