Land Plants - invasive

Italian Arum (Arum italicum) on May 25, 2008

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

No description necessary. It is DEFINITELY Italian Arum.

Commentary

Help!! How can I get rid of this plant?

Reporter
May 25, 2008, 11:58 p.m.

Dear Gary,

I am sorry to hear you have Italian arum since this plant is indeed nearly impossible to control without simply removing all of the infested soil! I would suggest isolating the patch and not letting it spread further by digging out outlying patches and clipping and throwing away flowers and seeds (in the garbage, not the compost). The Western Invasives Network Website has a forum dedicated to Italian arum control, I would encourage you to check it out for ideas and tip. Also if you have any experience you would like to share, please feel free to join the forum. Good luck, and thanks for reporting. We need to bring more attention to this nasty plant so it may in the future qualify for state regulation.

WIN Weed Management site, scroll down to Italian Arum thread:
http://www.westerninvasivesnetwork.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=271b3314bb248aa23a2257075bf5e656

Sincerely,

Tania Siemens
Oregon State University Sea Grant Extension

Tania Siemens
May 30, 2008, 10:55 p.m.

Remedy

Italian arum can be difficult to eradicate once established. Make sure to wear gloves and long sleeves and pants when removing it, as its sap can cause skin irritation. Do not compost or put in your yard debris, as this can lead to spreading of tubers which can grow into new plants. Home control methods can include carefully digging out the tuber and any daughter tubers and disposing in the trash. Cutting and disposing of the berries in the trash can help prevent spreading to new sites. Herbicide trials are still inconclusive, please contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District if you are interested in chemical control.

Resources

Washington State Noxious Weed Board info on Italian Arum

Location

I first found the species in my parent's home (3718 SE Long St, Portland, OR
97202) about 5 years ago. It attracted my intention because it looked more
like a house plant than something I might find outside. I have now found the same plant at my home (4428 SE 37th Ave 97202-3232)and it is spreading out-
of control on the North side of my home. I tried last year to kill it off
with Round-up (which I hated to use) but it had no obvious effect.

Expert Reviewer

Tania Siemens
WISE Program Coordinator (Watershed and Invasive Species Education)
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
Oregon State University
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
541-914-0701

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