Mouse Plant Junior

A delightful curiosity for any British gardener, Arisarum proboscideum is a low-growing perennial that never fails to charm. It forms a dense carpet of glossy, arrow-shaped green leaves just 10-15cm high. In mid-spring, the foliage hides the extraordinary flowers: chocolate-brown spathes that terminate in long, tapering "tails" reaching upwards, remarkably resembling the rear ends of mice disappearing into the foliage. It is a fantastic plant for a woodland garden or a shaded rockery, where it can be seen at close range. Fully hardy (H4), it thrives in damp, shaded conditions and acidic to neutral soil. In the UK, it is a spring ephemeral, often disappearing by midsummer as it goes into dormancy, so its location should be marked or it should be interplanted with later perennials. It spreads slowly to form a solid mat and is a wonderful conversation piece that children particularly enjoy. It prefers a site that doesn't dry out completely in summer.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Apr, May.