Plant with glossy leaves ID

jamesharcourt

This low growing plant has started growing in a shady area of my garden where there is currently a Camelia and a Vinca Minor (variegated) growing.   

Does anybody know what it is?  I've left it as it doesn't seem to be upsetting anything else and I quite like the look of the leaves ... thanks all.

Hostafan1

arum maculatum ?

jamesharcourt

Looks similar but the online pics of that are a little darker ... is this a weed?  Not quite sure how it got there!

Dovefromabove

Hostafan1 said:

arum maculatum ?

I agree.

I like them ... some folk hate them ... to be fair they can spread a bit, but they're easily identified and pulled up, and they die down quitg The flowers are strangely beautiful (and have lots of folk names, some very rude) ... the berries are poisonous but very beautiful and great food for birds and small mammals. 

Dovefromabove

It's a native wild flower ... whether it's a weed or not depends on your point of view and style of gardening.  

The berries are eaten by birds and small mammals so the seeds will have been dropped in the  .... 'droppings'. 

The young leaves are quite often paler than later in the season. 

jamesharcourt

Thanks @Hostafan1 and @Dovefromabove ... I'm going to keep !!

Dovefromabove

  

I've even been known to plant them ... 

When they flower pick one and peel the spathe open and see how the hairs trap unsuspecting insects so that they pollinate the flower.