Italian Arum

I took down a couple of trees last year, in one corner of our garden, in order to provide a little more light in that area.
There had not been anything else growing there, and I had intended to obtain something productive to put in.



Now I find I have dozens of these leaves growing, which I understand are Italian Arum.

Any advice?

 

Yes definitely Italium arum (Arum italicum), the leaf markings are very distinctive and can be quite varied.
They grow happily under most conditions apart from very heavy shade, easy to propagate either from the "tubers" underground, sometimes quite deep. Or fresh seed collected from the bright orange berries appearing in late summer/autumn, wear gloves when handling the berries as they can cause skin irritation.
Monksilver nurseries offer named varieties with different leaf markings.

 

Just reread the original post and am now wondering if the OP wants rid of them.
Well they'll be busy for a few years as they are persistent so and sos.
In a lawn you can mow them out, or strim them at the first sign of growth.
If you dig them out use a large spade so you don't leave any small "tubers" behind, put them in the Council green waste bin rather than your compost heap. They will treat your compost heap as a rest cure.
You could try putting them in a sack and leaving in a barrel of water for 6 months (will stink), this will kill most things.

 

Thank you @NigelJ
I hadn't decided whether or not to get rid of them. They are in the corner of the garden furthest from the house. I was surprised to see them
Thank you for the advice about the possibility of irritation to the skin. I'll take care.
Now I've spent time today opening the area up even more today, maybe I'll find other surprises coming through.
It's amazing what sits dormant beneath trees.
Thank you again @NigelJ

 

I have them in my garden and have been trying to get rid of them for about 15 years.
Part of the problem is if they flower and set seed, birds eat the seeds and subsequently drop the seed elsewhere in the garden so more appear.
They produce masses of tiny bulblets which migrate deep into the soil! I've found them about 18"-2ft below the soil surface!
Weedkillers don't work either as the droplets just run off the waxy leaves.

It's interesting how the bulbs bury themselves deeper and deeper into the soil -
from Google-
Arum bulbs, like many other bulb plants, bury themselves deeper into the soil through the action of "contractile roots" which shorten and pull the bulb downwards over time, anchoring themselves in deeper soil with their extended root tips; this process allows the bulb to gradually descend to a more protected position in the ground.

 

Very interesting. I have the commoner arum (Lords and Ladies, Cuckoo Pint, Jack in the Pulpit). I just did a bit of googling and found this:

Arum Maculate is a very common causes of accidental plant poisoning and apparently the most common upset is if somebody uses the leaves as woodland toilet paper, a mistake they will only make once!

 

They contain needle like crystals of calcium oxalate. So a bit like fresh sandpaper.
Use a dock leaf or a mullein leaf instead.

 

Mullein leaves are furry, that's like the luxury stuff.

 

I'm getting the impression that it would be best for me to attempt to remove these - but I'm unlikely to ever be able to eradicate them.

A bit like Japanese anemones. Both of these plants the previous owner of this garden put in!!

I wonder what else she planted that is going to be impossible to remove entirely?

 

I have them in my garden , they have to fight with the other plants to survive in the borders

I like them and the leaves are amazing and feeds the birds with berries late summer .

just leave and enjoy

Spruce

 

In my garden the arums are growing on a steep slope under trees, alongside ivy and tutsan. They look good there. I've spotted one in my raised bed where I grow courgettes though so that one will be coming out. I expect a bird sat on the side of the bed and pooped.

 

Thank you @Spruce and @Escarpment
for the positive remarks. I've "accidentally" trampled on a couple while continuing my work in the garden.

 

But cheaper than Andrex and less fun for that puppy to steal.

 

It'll survive. I like them because they grow in most soil conditions and the leaves start to come through in autumn (in my garden) and the silver on green markings brighten up the dull days.

 

I'm sure they'll survive. If they have survived years hidden beneath a tree, I have no doubt that they will return after being trodden on.

By the time I've finished clearing the corner, they'll receive far more light.