What does it look like?
Green goddess arum is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial (to 1.5 m) growing from tubers, with large glossy, leathery, dark-green, arrow-shaped leaves (to 45 cm x 25 cm) with pale fine veins and wavy margins, held upright on long stalks (to 1 m).
From September to December, a yellow, finger-like spike surrounded by a large, greenish-white, funnel-shaped, modified leaf (to 25 cm), forms a flower-like structure that is followed by round green or yellow berries (1 cm) on the flower stalk after the leaves die back.
Zantedeschia aethiopica is essentially the same plant, but produces large white flowers with a yellow spike and yellow-green berries (10 mm).
Why is it a problem?
It forms dense cover on the ground in open sites, shading out native plants and preventing native plants establishing. It tolerates a wide range of conditions including wet, wind, salt, hot to cold, most soil types, moderate shade and is drought-resistant once established.
Control methods
Physical control
For both green goddess arum and arum lily, begin clearance at top of catchment. Slash tops and leave on site to rot down. Dig out tubers, dry and burn or bury deeply.
Herbicide control
- Cut down and paint stump with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (1g) + glyphosate (100ml) + penetrant per L water. Leave stems and leaves on site to rot down Or,
- Spray with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (3g) + glyphosate (150ml) + penetrant per 10L water.
- Mowing gives no control. Digging usually leaves root fragments and dropped tuber pieces which resprout. Small infestations may be left untreated where regeneration to dense forest is occurring, however removal of arum will increase native seedling establishment rate. Exclude all livestock from site when treating.
- CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)
The NPPA is designed to prevent the sale, distribution and propagation of a set list of pest plants (the Accord list) within New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage the New Zealand economy and environment.
More informationUnwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
Taxonomies
FamilyAraceae
TypePlants
GroupGroundcover
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted Organism
