Arum 'Chameleon'
Lords and ladies, Cuckoo-pint
Also known as Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Chameleon'
- Height × spread
- 0.3m × 0.35m
- Position
- All conditions
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A beautiful variant of the Italian arum. This has large broad wavy leaves that are marbled in shades of green and grey with a neat green border. The leaves are arrow shaped. These appear on autumn and die in late spring. The hooded flowers make an appearance at about this time. They have an erect hood over a vertical flowering spike (a spathe) that is coloured white, greenish or even purple. The whole plant is dormant during summer and then columnar spikes bearing red berries emerge before the leaves open. The plant is of course poisonous in all its parts. Give this a spot protected from trampling feet, preferably one that is partially or lightly shaded with good soil that always has moisture in it.
- Flower colour
- Green, White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Grey
- Fruit colour
- Orange
- Variegated
- Yes
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.3m
- Spread
- 0.35m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Autumn, Winter
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Shady court, Indoors, Cottage garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Dry and shady 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.
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.
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.
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
More Arum
Arum
Lords and ladies
Arum creticum
Yellow arum, Sweet scented arum, Cretan arum
Arum cyrenaicum
Cyrenaicum arum
Arum italicum
Italian arum
Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum'
Italian arum
Arum maculatum
Jack by the hedge
Arum pictum
Autumn arum, Black calla, Black arum
Arum italicum
Italian arum