From the kitchen window the white spathes glow against the dark back corner where the lawn drops into a wet ditch. That soggy patch drowns everything else, yet the arum lilies stand tall there. I planted three rhizomes in that mud on a whim, and they have spread into a clump the size of a car bonnet. The best arum lily planting location is a spot that stays damp all year, with moist rich soil and full sun to part shade.
Moisture is the one factor that decides where your plant thrives. Most perennials rot in ground that never dries out, but the arum lily wants it. Its leaves push out extra water through tiny pores, a trick called guttation, so wet roots never bother it. A low, damp corner that would kill your roses is the perfect home for an arum lily instead. I have never once watered mine.
This flips how you should scout your garden for a planting spot. Skip the dry raised bed and the gravel border. Look instead for the part of the garden that puddles after rain. The strip near a downpipe, a leaky outdoor tap, or the foot of a slope where runoff collects all work well. The wetter and richer the ground, the better your plants flower and spread each year.
You can take the water love even further and grow it right at the edge of a pond. The RHS notes the arum lily works as a marginal aquatic in water up to 12 in (30 cm) deep. An arum lily pond margin suits it well, where the crown sits just below the surface and the leaves rise above. Use an aquatic basket and aquatic compost so the rhizome holds at the right depth and the soil stays put in the water.
The soil matters as much as the water itself. Aim for clay or loam packed with organic matter, since heavy ground holds moisture and feeds the roots. Dig in plenty of compost or rotted manure before you plant, and mix it through the top spade depth. Poor, sandy soil drains too fast and leaves your plant thirsty, with floppy leaves and few flowers to show for it.
Light and shelter round out your choice of spot. Pick a sheltered west- or south-facing position so your plant gets warmth without harsh wind battering the broad leaves. Full sun brings the most flowers in cooler climates. But in a hot region you want afternoon shade, or those white spathes and glossy leaves scorch brown at the edges by midsummer.
Damp Border Or Low Corner
- Why it works: The ground stays wet, which is exactly what the roots want, so the plant rarely needs extra watering.
- What to add: Dig in compost or rotted manure to build the rich, heavy soil that holds moisture through summer.
- Watch for: A spot that bakes dry in a heatwave will stress the plant, so keep it away from sandy, fast-draining ground.
Pond Edge As A Marginal
- Why it works: The arum lily grows happily in water up to 12 in (30 cm) deep with its crown just under the surface.
- What to add: Set the rhizome in an aquatic basket with aquatic compost so it stays at the right depth.
- Watch for: Cover the soil surface with gravel so it does not wash out and cloud the pond water.
Sheltered Sunny Bed
- Why it works: A west- or south-facing spot gives warmth and the long hours of light that drive heavy flowering.
- What to add: A windbreak or nearby shrub shields the tall stems from wind that can snap or bruise them.
- Watch for: In hot climates, give the plant afternoon shade so the leaves and flowers do not scorch.
So put your arum lilies in the wettest, richest corner you have, sheltered from strong wind, with sun in the morning and shade in the heat of the day. A pond edge or a damp border beats any dry bed every time. Give them that home and they form a fat clump that comes back stronger each season.
Read the full article: Arum Lily: Complete Care and Safety Guide
