Arum Fruit - What to Do?

[Peter George]

I have some little red Arum fruits in a dish, that I harvested yesterday. What do I do with them? The plant that produced them is long dormant, and since it took about 4 years for it to flower the first time, I was totally unprepared for them. And, of course, I have lost the label. I guess it will be next year before I can identify it.

[Hoy]

I would sow the seeds (take away the pulp) early this autumn if I wanted more plants. Place the pot outside but cover against birds, rodents etc.

[McDonough]

I've never grown Arum from seed, in fact, have no Arum in the garden...no particular reason, it's just that I haven't gotten around to trying them yet... I do like the Araceae.

But I would be tempted to treat the seed as they might be treated in nature; that is sow them now with the pulp on, but sow them in place outdoors, possibly close to the parent plant.  I use this lackadaisical direct-sowing-in-situ technique for Arisaema seed all the time, and the seed comes up the following spring.  I have also spent time removing the pulp and sowing, maybe that guarantees a higher percentage of germination, or hastens germination, I'm not sure, but the easy direct sowing method works for me.

[Hoy]

The pulp often contains germination-inhibiting chemicals. But if the seeds stay outside all winter I think that doesn't matter as Mark says.

[Howey]

Hi Peter:  I, too have a nice Arum which has recently fruited.  This is Arum maculatum which did very well in a shady spot this year. I collected the orange colored seeds, removed the pulp and put the dried seed in an envelope in the frig - plan to put them into the Seedex this year.  Incidentally, the plant was brought home from Wisley Garden in the UK.  Fran Howey

Frances Howey
London, Ontario, Canada
Zone 5b