Arum Alpinum

Arum alpinum, now generally treated as Arum cylindraceum, is a compact woodland aroid from central and south-eastern Europe. Arrow-shaped green leaves emerge from an underground tuber and are followed by a discreet greenish spathe surrounding a darker cylindrical spadix. Once the foliage retreats, a short spike of vivid orange-red berries provides a second, more conspicuous display. The plant is best appreciated in a shaded rock garden or beneath deciduous shrubs, where the soil remains humus-rich and moist in spring. Like all arums it is toxic, and the berries must be kept away from children and pets.