Poisonous plant
Alfierawes
Posts: 72
I wish to replant part of my garden but have found Arum Italicum growing amongst plants. I believe it is very difficult to get rid of. Can anyone please advise me how to eradicate it and stop it spreading or how to deal with it?
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Simply dig it up, and definitely don't let the berries fall and germinate. I've not found it particularly difficult to shift.
Nor me. Just make sure you go down deep enough to get all the bulbs out. As far as poisonous gooes, it maybe, but there have been no reported deaths from it for a very very long time.
Thank you for those responses. I gather that part of the problem is getting all the bulbs out as they tend to roll around in the soil.
I know it is attractive but I need to get rid of it!
Best get rid of it by digging deep. I'm always wary of it as 2 of my children, when they were 2 and 4, (now in their 30s!) ate the bright red berries and I had to rush them to hospital. The berries contain an acid which burns the mouth and throat - usually stops one from eating too many! My children howled all the way to hospital.
Thank you Busy-Lizzie. What you are saying is exactly what I have read. I'm just afraid of digging incase I miss bulblets and it spreads even more. I wonder if covering it with weed prevention matting might help.
The trouble with bulbs is that they are a food store and can last out a long time. The stems are quite brittle so you can't help leaving a some little bulbs behind. If you miss the odd few bulblets you will see where they come up next time and get them then. Now you know what you're looking for you can dig them up before the berries come, which is the problem part.
Thanks for the advise. I think that oxalis is also difficult to get rid of!!!