Arum italicum

This arum, sometimes commonly called Italian arum, is a stemless woodland species native to Europe. Typically grows 12-18″ tall. It resembles our native Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema tryphyllum). Each flower consists of (1) an erect, finger-like spadix covered with minute, creamy white flowers and (2) a large, sheath-like, light green spathe (bract) which subtends and partially envelops the spadix like a hood. Flowers produced in spring. Arrowhead-shaped, long-petioled, glossy grayish-green leaves with pale green midribs are 8-12″ long. After bloom, the leaves and spathe die back leaving only the thick spadix which develops attractive, bright orange-red berries in summer. New leaves emerge in autumn and remain evergreen in warm winter climates but die back in cold winter climates where they emerge again in early spring. All parts of this plant are toxic.  (Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant Finder)