"Lords and Ladies"

Monday, July 23, 2012

"Lords and Ladies"

What an unusual name for a plant!  I have had this plant growing in my side shade garden for about six years now, and have not know the name of it until just this past weekend.  I toured the Cleveland Botanical Gardens over the weekend with a group of people from my Garden Club.  Namely, The Nordonia Hills Garden Club, of which I am the founding Past President. 

Lord's and Ladies" (Italian Arum, or Orange Candleflower) was acquired from a friend in the garden club.  She had brought a few of them potted  up to a garden club meeting and gave them away to new homes.  The leaves are long and arrow shaped with white lines running through them.  They grow in mounds, and, in my garden, the leaves are under the snow in the winter.  As Spring approaches and the days grow warmer, more leaves come up and the plant is just spectacular with those white veined leaves.  Then, around the middle of the Summer, the leaves die off and the most amazing green posts shoot up with clusters of green berries on them.  As the Summer heat continues, the berries turn a reddish-orange.  These will stay for awhile, then die back as new leaves shoot up!

You need moist, organic soil for this plant to do well.  Shade or partial filtered sunlight, also.

Any part of the plant is an irritant if ingested!

Can you figure out who which one is the "Lord" and which the "Lady".  One is the leaf and one is the berry!

Until next time.

Rosemary, Garden Gate Designs
www.gardengatedesigns.artfire.com