Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Lords and Ladies.
Arum maculatum
Pronounced AIR-um mack-yoo-LAY-tum
Also known as Adam-and-Eve, Cuckoo Pint, Cuckoo-pint, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Lords-And-Ladies, Lords-and-Ladies [Arum maculatum]
This woodland perennial is famous for its unique hooded flowers and bright red berries. It emerges in early spring and often goes dormant by mid summer. You will love how it adds a touch of mystery to shady garden spots.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Perennial bulb
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Indoor light
- Medium light
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 12 to 18 inches
- Growth rate
- Medium
Care
Plant these in rich, moist soil where they can enjoy dappled shade. Keep an eye out for slugs that might snack on the foliage in spring. Since the plant disappears in summer, mark the spot so you do not accidentally dig up the tubers.
- Watering
- Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged during the active growing season.
- Feeding
- A light application of organic compost in early spring is plenty to keep them happy.
- Pruning
- Simply clear away dead foliage once the plant enters dormancy in late summer.
- Repotting
- Divide the tubers every few years if they become too crowded in their space.
- Soil
- Moist, humus rich, well draining soil
- Soil pH
- Neutral to alkaline
Safety
- Pets
- This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested due to calcium oxalate crystals.
How to identify it
- Arrow shaped leaves with dark spots
- Hooded spathe surrounding a central spadix
- Clusters of bright orange red berries
- Tubers found beneath the soil surface
Science
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Arum
- Order
- Alismatales
- Class
- Liliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Also in
Is your lords and ladies looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.