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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Arum maculatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Hedgerow;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses:
Tuber - cooked and used as a vegetable[2, 177]. A mild flavour, the root contains about 25% starch[74]. A farina can be extracted from the root[2]. Roots can be harvested at any time of the year, though they are best when the plant is dormant[K]. At one time, the tubers of this plant were commonly harvested and used for food, but they are very rarely used nowadays[268, K]. The root must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten, see the notes above on toxicity. Leaves - must be well cooked[177]. Available from late winter. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic Diaphoretic Diuretic Expectorant Homeopathy Purgative Vermifuge
Cuckoo pint has been little used in herbal medicine and is generally not recommended for internal use[268]. The shape of the flowering spadix has a distinct sexual symbolism and the plant did have a reputation as an aphrodisiac, though there is no evidence to support this[268]. The root is diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, strongly purgative and vermifuge[4, 9, 19, 21]. It should be harvested in the autumn or before the leaves are produced in the spring[4]. It can be stored fresh in a cellar in sand for up to a year or can be dried for later use[4]. The plant should be used with caution[9], see notes above on toxicity. The bruised fresh plant has been applied externally in the treatment of rheumatic pain[268]. A liquid from the boiled bark (of the stem?[K]) has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[213]. A homeopathic remedy is prepared from the root and leaves[4]. It has been used in the treatment of sore throats[4, 268].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Starch
Starch from the root has been used as a laundry starch for stiffening clothes[4, 66, 100]. Its use is said to be very harsh on the skin, producing sores and blisters on the hands of the laundresses who have to use it[66, 100], though another report says that the powdered root makes a good and innocent cosmetic that can be used to remove freckles[4].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a humus rich soil and abundant water in the growing season[1, 13]. Prefers a shady damp calcareous soil[13, 31]. Succeeds in sun or shade[90]. Plants are very shade tolerant[17] and grow well in woodland conditions[1]. The inflorescence has the remarkable ability to heat itself above the ambient air temperature to such a degree that it is quite noticeable to the touch[4]. Temperature rises of 11°c have been recorded[245]. At the same time, the flowers emit a foul and urinous smell in order to attract midges for pollination[245]. The smell disappears once the flower has been pollinated[245]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - best sown in a greenhouse or cold frame as soon as it is ripe[134]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[134]. Stored seed should be sown in the spring in a greenhouse and can be slow to germinate, sometimes taking a year or more. A period of cold stratification might help to speed up the process. Sow the seed thinly, and allow the seedlings to grow on without disturbance for their first year, giving occasional liquid feeds to ensure that they do not become mineral deficient. When the plants are dormant in the autumn, divide up the small corms, planting 2 - 3 in each pot, and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for a further year, planting out when dormant in the autumn. Division of the corms in summer after flowering[200]. Larger corms can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up the smaller corms and grow them on for a year in a cold frame before planting them out.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey (north) EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden (south), Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy (north), Romania, Spain, France, Portugal
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Acer saccharum | Sugar Maple, Florida Maple, Hard Maple, Rock Maple | Tree | 30.0 |
4-8
| S | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Acer saccharum grandidentatum | Big-Tooth Maple, Canyon Maple, Rocky Mountain Sugar Maple | Tree | 12.0 |
5-8
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Acer saccharum nigrum | Black Maple | Tree | 25.0 |
4-6
| S | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Amorphophallus paeoniifolius | Elephant Yam, Whitespot giant arum | Perennial | 0.8 |
11-12
| | LM | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Amorphophallus rivieri | Devil's Tongue, Umbrella Arum, Leopard Palm, Snake Palm | Perennial | 0.8 |
10-11
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Arisarum vulgare | Friar's Cowl | Perennial | 0.5 |
6-9
| | LM | FS | M | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Arum dioscoridis | | Perennial | 0.3 |
7-10
| | LMH | FSN | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Arum italicum | Italian lords and ladies, Italian Arum | Perennial | 0.4 |
5-9
| | LMH | FSN | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Asarum arifolium | | Perennial | 0.2 |
6-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Asarum blumei | | Perennial | 0.2 |
6-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 1 | |
| Asarum canadense | Snake Root, Canadian wildginger, Canada Wild Ginger, Wild Ginger | Perennial | 0.1 |
3-9
| S | LMH | FS | M | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Asarum caudatum | Wild Ginger, British Columbia wildginger | Perennial | 0.1 |
6-10
| F | LMH | FS | M | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Asarum dilatatum | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Asarum europaeum | Asarabacca, European Wild Ginger | Perennial | 0.1 |
4-8
| S | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Asarum forbesii | Du Heng | Perennial | 0.2 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 1 | |
| Asarum heterotropoides | | Perennial | 0.2 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 2 | |
| Asarum maximum | | Perennial | 0.5 |
6-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 1 | |
| Asarum nipponicum | | Perennial | 0.1 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Asarum reflexum | | Perennial | 0.2 |
5-9
| | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Asarum shuttleworthii | Asarabacca, Mottled Wild Ginger | Perennial | 0.1 |
5-9
| F | LMH | FS | M | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Asarum sieboldii | Wild Ginger | Perennial | 0.2 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 0 | 2 | |
| Asarum splendens | Chinese Wild Ginger | Perennial | 0.2 |
5-9
| S | LM | FS | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Asarum takaoi | | Perennial | 0.1 |
-
| | LMH | FS | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Calla palustris | Water Arum | Perennial | 0.3 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | WeWa | 2 | 2 | |
| Carum carvi | Caraway | Biennial | 0.6 |
3-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Hedysarum alpinum | Alpine Sweetvetch | Perennial | 0.6 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Hedysarum arcticum | | Perennial | 0.3 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Hedysarum boreale | Sweet Vetch, Utah sweetvetch, Northern sweetvetch | Perennial | 0.1 |
3-7
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Hedysarum boreale mackenzii | Liquorice Root | Perennial | 0.1 |
3-7
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 0 | |
|
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
17200
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