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Description
Cuckoo pint (Arum maculatum), also known as lords-and-ladies, wild arum, wake robin, Adam and Eve, or adder root, is a native perennial plant found throughout the UK. Common along woodland edges, hedgerows, and shaded banks, it brings distinctive seasonal interest to spring woodlands and naturalised gardens.
Fresh green foliage emerges early in the year, followed by a sculptural flower spike enclosed in a hooded spathe, with vivid red berries appearing later in summer.
How To Identify
Cuckoo pint is recognised by its arrow-shaped, glossy green leaves, often marked with dark spots. In spring, it produces a pale green, funnel-shaped spathe surrounding a central flower spike made up of tiny, yellow flowers. By late summer, this develops into a dense cluster of bright red berries.
All parts of Arum maculatum are poisonous to humans due to naturally occurring calcium oxalates and should not be handled or consumed.
How to Grow
This tuberous herbaceous perennial thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial shade, making it well-suited to woodland planting schemes and shaded garden areas. It establishes from tuberous roots and will gently naturalise over time with minimal intervention.
