Biarum

A curious genus of Aroids spread from Portugal and Morocco as far east as Afghanistan. They are related to Arum, but Biarum leaves lack lobes at the base and so they are spear-shaped; Arum has lobed, arrow-head shaped leaves. Biarum have whitish berries each with one seed and Biarum seed heads develop below ground only appeariong above the ground, once they are fully formed and almost ripe. In contrast Arum have 2-6 seeds per berry and the berries are red and held, above ground, on a stalk before and after ripening.

Most Biarum are autumn flowering but they can bloom in April (Biarum rhopalospadix), July (Biarum ditschianum), and October (Biarum davisii and Biarum marmarisense). The inflorescence is similar to Arum but is on a short stem, close to ground level. Some are pungently smelly for the first day after opening when the female flowers are fertile. By the second day the smell eases and the male flowers become fertile. Some are unscented, a very few are delightfully perfumed.

All of the species that we offer follow a Mediterranean pattern of growth. All are dormant over the summer months. They can be easily grown in a soil-based compost. Keep dry (but not severely so) in summer until growth starts in autumn. Most don’t like cold. but Biarum tenuifolium can be grown outside in favourable parts of the UK. We have overwintered Biarum marmarisense down to -10°C without harm, but in general I prefer to grow these in pots in a frost-free glasshouse, or bedded out in the same house.

Available for ordering from our Autumn list only.