Arum creticum
Yellow arum, Sweet scented arum, Cretan arum
- Height × spread
- 0.3m × 0.35m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Winter, Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A handsome arum found growing in rocky places at moderate altitude in Crete. It is also seen on other islands, as well as the south west of Turkey. The leaves appear in winter and spring, as do the flowers. The leaves are rich dark green, broadly arrow-shaped with wavy edges. The flowers don't smell unpleasant, indeed, some even like the fragrance. The flower is the classic hood (hte spathe), with a long yellow tongue (the spadix). It is coloured creamy or bright yellow and is elegant, often on a long stalk above the foliage. It is summer-dormant and the fruit appears in autumn. It is generally grown in a greenhouse or alpine house in the UK and needs a sunny position. General care: If grown in a container under cover, feed monthly with a general purpose fertiliser when in growth and water regularly. Reduce water in summer to give it a period of dormancy in that season.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, sweet
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.3m
- Spread
- 0.35m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Autumn, Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter, Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Gravel garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Indoor light
- A light position not direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 0C minimum temperature
- Use for
- Bird attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, plant with caution; Humans: CAUTION toxic if eaten; skin/eye irritant
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Winter
Winter · Indoors
Water sparingly during dormancy
In its dormant period give very little water, keeping the soil barely moist. Dormancy is likely to be during the winter and the plant recommences growth in early to mid spring.
When a plant enters dormancy the leaves fade, go yellow and then brown. Eventually the whole plant may 'disappear' or unadorned stems may remain.
Winter-Spring · Planting
Divide after flowering
Clumps that have become congested can be lifted, divided and replanted with some space between the bulbs, corms, or rhizomes so that they can further develop, producing new foliage clumps in the future.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Houseplant compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality house plant compost.
Indoor temperature · Planting
0C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 0 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in indirect light indoors
Give the plant a position that is cool and light, and away from direct sunshine.
Found in
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