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Italian arum

Italian arum
Photo: Dr Sheldon Navie
Invasive Plant
Italian arum
Arum italicum
 

A perennial to 50cm high with summer-dormant tubers. Arrow-shaped dark green leaves with a cream pattern of veins are present in winter and spring. Flowers are produced inside a pale green spathe no taller than the leaves, followed by a spike of red berries that remain after the leaves die. It persists in old gardens and may be spread into bushland when birds eat the berries.

 
 
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Additional suggested alternatives: cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), Cunjevoi lily (Alocasia brisbanensis), Japanese iris (Iris laevigata and I. ensata)

 

Alternative Plants

Clivea
Photo: Elwyn Swayne
Alternative Plant Clivea
Clivia miniata
Trees and Shrubs
 

Grown for their deep green strap-like leaves and funnel-shaped, yellow-throated, orange to red flowers in spring. A clump forming perennial to 0.5 m high that thrives in full-shade to partshade in most soils. Is drought hardy and can be grown in containers. Yellow Clivea and deep orange-red 'BelgiumHybr id' forms are also available.

New Zealand Rock Lily
Photo: © immij pty ltd
Alternative Plant New Zealand Rock Lily
Arthropodium cirrhatum 'Matapouri Bay'
Bulbous Plants
 

A cultivar of the New Zealand Rock Lily that grows to 1 m high by 1 m wide. The upright, broad, glaucous green foliage is a year round feature. In summer the plant is crowned with sprays of tall panicles of starry white flowers on long, slender, wiry stems held above the foliage.

Swamp Lily
Photo: Lorna Rose
Alternative Plant Swamp Lily
Crinum pedunculatum
Trees and Shrubs
 

This Australian native plant has rosettes of broad leaves and clusters of white, highly fragrant flowers on 1 m stems. Flowers appear from November to March. An extremely hardy specimen, it thrives in full-sun or dappled shade. It is mildly frost tolerant and can withstand poor drainage and clay soils.

 
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