Italian Arum- Collection

Q: My Italian arum, ^Arum italicum^ ‘Pictum’, has finished blooming and now there is a stalk with a lot of green beads. I guess they are seed but how do I collect them?

A: Wait until the berries are all red and the stalk seems ready to fall down. Collect them and wash off the mushy pulp in a bowl of water. The hard black seeds can be planted immediately in a shady spot. I get close to 100% germination with mine. It will take two seasons of growth before the leaves achieve the attractive mottled appearance that makes them such a winter garden standout.