Arum palaestinum

One of many delicious arums from the mountains of the Middle East and one that clumps for us instead of eating the garden. Winter growing with shiny, bright, 8-12” leaves and velvety, late winter flowers opening black and aging to rich, dark maroon. Seems tolerant of summer moisture or complete summer drought. Good for shade in the dry border. Intact in our garden after the December 2008 cold spell to 20 °F. We reckon cold hardiness to at least mid USDA zone 7.

This Palestinian native is one of our favorite arums that has thrived in our garden for more than two decades, despite effort by the Arum palaestinum Liberation Organization (APLO) to extricate it. During the fall, dark green, trowel-shaped foliage emerges from the tuber to form a nice clump of foliage that remains up during the winter. In late April the bizarre, purple-black, tail-like sex appendage (spadix) emerges from within a wicked looking shell-like spathe. The smell resembles rotting fruit...not that I'm an expert on odors. Arum palaestinum prefers a dry site in the winter with good drainage.