Tell me about this weed

My friend, about 3 miles from me, has an assortment of weeds I have never had. One of them, absolutely all over her place, resembles a very small immature bulb when you pull it out. The tops, when they are just sprouting, almost resemble a type of calla lily. Do any of you want to take a guess?

My guess from your description is arum maculatum (known as Lords and Ladies over here)

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/plants_and_algae/Arum_maculatum/

some people think it is a plus. Not me. Off with their heads!

I am not sure. I have one in a baggie in my purse and stopping by a nursery on way to work in a bit. Will report back. Actually, my friend does not have alot in her yard but rather what would be described as an infestation.

The weed was id a Arum Italicum. Said it goes dormant in the summer. Best to paint it killer as pulling it can cause some of the bulb and tiny hairs to break off and spread. But this is not a weed to everyone?

It is a WEED here. Planted it in 95 and still fighting to kill the sucker. I dig a grocery sack full of them by sifting for bulbs almost every year...I would never have planted it if I had been told it was invasive. Good luck to you both on getting rid of it.

D

Same here! At least I get them deadheaded before seeds drop. Round Up doesn't phase them!

Neither does crossbow, just keep digging and thinning...less each year but as long as there is ONE on the place you will have more the and more the following year. I HATE THEM

D

If neither Crosss bow nor RoundUp phase this plant they must be related to bindweed! Is it invasive in drier climates?

YUP

I have Arum in my yard also. It was here and there when we moved in, but now it is everywhere overgrowing all the flower beds. It's hard to remove the little bulblets without disturbing the perennials. I had hoped there was some other way, but after reading here, I see it is like getting rid of bindweed, one root at a time.

You got that right. Luckily because of shifting for the little bulbs it is getting less all the time but still here. Kinda like Ajuca...or vinca

Denise

Reading this thread, I'm thinking maybe I should pull mine out. I like it, but I don't want a problem later. Too bad the leaves are so pretty. Mine hasn't become invasive, but maybe that's because I've dug it up and moved it each year so it's always catching its breath.

Lucky you not to have it hit invasive stage. I planted this years ago as it was a give with plants ordered. At that time no where did it say this plant was this invasive.

Denise

this plant was never planted in my friends garden by 2 legged gardeners; maybe the winged or 4 legged ones tho.

Just to make sure we're all on the same page here, take a look at this photo, Anastasia. Is this what you are talking about?

http://www.worldplants.com/pics/arum%20italicum.JPG

They are so pretty. It's going to take courage for me to pull them out, so I want to make sure this is the plant you are talking about.

no, that is not the plant. Your pix is of something close to varigated (sp?)but this is not. And I have not seen anything like that flower.
Oh, I am back and that just might be it, pixydish. I went to naturehill.com and their pix looks like yours. Having a bunch of them might be ok but literally an infestation is what Peggy has. Dozens of them everywhere there is an open area of soil.

This message was edited Apr 22, 2007 11:59 PM

well rats. I guess that means I better get them out of there.

One of my friends has some in a shady spot under a tree and they haven't become a problem at all - and they've been there for years. She didn't plant them to begin with, though, and has no idea how they arrived. She gave me some once, but I never got them planted - I think I'm glad as it's a cinch they would take off in my yard . . . adding to the nettles, thistle, horsetail, etc.!!!