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Can anyone help identify what this is?

pbrown190708242pbrown190708242 Posts: 3
edited 19 January in Plants
I recently moved into a new house, with an incredible garden.  Having never had anything more than a patio, or decking, so it's a little daunting.  There are some very large mature trees at the back, under which was a lot of ground ivy.  I cleared a lot of it back about a week ago, and now some greens have started to sprout out.  Most of them are snow drops or crocus'.  However, one of the patches looks like... chard?  The previous owner mentioned something about wild garlic growing, but that was up near the top.  And I haven't seen any pics of wild garlic that look like this.  At this stage, can anyone tell me what this is?  I've planted nothing back there, these just appeared by themselves.
Thanks.

Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited 19 January

    Welcome to the forums.

    Looks like Arum maculatum..common name Cuckoo pint./Lords and Ladies etc etc.

    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=599830617&q=Arum+maculatum&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQ59ip9emDAxWzQkEAHWitA7QQ0pQJegQIDxAB&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • pbrown190708242pbrown190708242 Posts: 3
    Hi Silver Surfer, thank you for your reply.  Yes it really does look like that.  However, if it is, I may need to remove it all as I see they are poisonous to dogs, and mine unfortunately will have a go at anything.  Maybe I'll try to fence these in with some chicken wire and see how they grow.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It will die down after spring just leaving the flower stem which will hold shiny red berries later.
     They’re toxic for us but a valuable wildlife food,  so keep small children away from the berries, teach older ones not to touch, and just look and observe this wonder of nature. 
    I can remember as a child being shown how the ‘flower’ traps insects inside it to pollinate each plant … and sometimes I would dissect a flower to see the insects … always remembering to wash my hands afterwards. 💚 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • pbrown190708242pbrown190708242 Posts: 3
    Hi Dovefromabove, good shout.  Yeah I think I'll definitely just block these off and keep them going.  I want to try to attract as much wildlife as possible.  That sounds like an interesting activity, something I'll try my hand at. Thanks
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Dovefromabove said:

    I can remember as a child being shown how the ‘flower’ traps insects inside it to pollinate each plant … and sometimes I would dissect a flower to see the insects

    1. Showing the spathe .
    2.The male part of the flower.with the outer layer removed.
    3. Insects trapped inside...fertilising the female part of the flower
    4.  Berries starting to form



    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    They have some good ‘common names’ https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/lords-and-ladies/ 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited 20 January
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/991651/weedlings
    You might find this thread useful 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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