How to Plant Arum Italicum

Arum italicum, commonly known as lords and ladies, grow from bulbs and they are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 9. The pale yellow flowers appear in mid-spring to early summer. After the flowers, berries will appear in September. The berries start out green in color, but going through the next two to three months they change to yellow, orange and then bright red. In the winter, after the berries are gone, white marbled, arrow-shaped leaves appear, giving your garden a splash of color.

Garden fork or tiller
Rake
Bulb-digging tool (Optional)
Bulb fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Find a location to plant Arum italicum bulbs in the spring. The Arum italicum can grow in almost any area from full sun to full shade.
- 2
  Prepare the planting bed. Turn the soil with a garden fork or a tiller to a depth of 10 inches. Level the soil with a rake.
- 3
  Dig holes 3 to 5 inches deep. There is a special bulb-digging tool that can be used. Space the holes 12 inches apart.
- 4
  Add bulb fertilizer into the planting hole. The amount of fertilizer to use varies. Read and follow label directions for amounts to use.
- 5
  Examine the bulbs. The top of the bulb is the pointed end and the roots come out on the fatter end. If you cannot tell the difference, plant the bulb sideways. The plant will grow.
- 6
  Cover the bulbs with soil and then place a marker near each bulb to identify them when they begin to grow.
- 7
  Water the garden area thoroughly or to a depth of 6 inches. Provide an inch of water every week during the spring, summer and fall months, but do not water if your area has received sufficient rainfall amounts.

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Bulbs