Species library · Plants & herbs

Cuckoo Pint: deadly poisonous

Arum maculatum

☠ Deadly poisonous. Do not eat.What to do if poisoning is suspected

Cuckoo Pint is classed as deadly poisonous in the Forage field guide. This page helps you identify it and tell it apart from similar species. It is not a foraging guide. When in doubt, have a find identified by an expert.

If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away. If someone has trouble breathing, has a seizure or is unconscious, call emergency services. Don't wait for symptoms: with some poisonings they only start hours later. Keep any leftovers of the find, they help identify it.

Usually seen from January to December in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland. Can be confused with similar species.

☠ Deadly poisonous
Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum)

Photo: (c) Grzegorz Grzejszczak, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Grzegorz Grzejszczak · iNaturalist

When Cuckoo Pint appears

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset.

Where it grows

Cuckoo Pint is usually found in Woodland.

Look up Cuckoo Pint in the app

In the Forage app, Cuckoo Pint has a full field guide entry with more photos, key features and the species it can be confused with.

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Cuckoo Pint: common questions

Is Cuckoo Pint poisonous?

Yes. Cuckoo Pint is classed as deadly poisonous in the Forage field guide. Do not eat it. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away, or emergency services if it is life-threatening.

When does Cuckoo Pint appear?

Cuckoo Pint usually appears from January to December in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather.

Where does Cuckoo Pint grow?

Cuckoo Pint is usually found in Woodland.

What can Cuckoo Pint be confused with?

Deadly look-alikes: Lily of the valley, Autumn crocus, Italian arum. Only a confident identification tells them apart. When in doubt, have a find checked by an expert.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits