[2] It is native to the British Isles[3] and much of the Mediterranean region, the Caucasus, Canary Islands, Madeira and northern Africa.

[12] Arum italicum nativity by subspecies is as follows:[1] Subspecies italicum has a multi-continental introduced presence, including in northeast Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, north New Zealand, and the U.S. states of Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New York, and North Carolina.

Manual control may spread the plants through the dissemination of soil contaminated with bulb and root fragments.

[2] Subspecies italicum (the one normally grown in horticulture) has distinctive pale veins on the leaves, whilst subspecies neglectum (known as late cuckoo pint[18]) has faint pale veins, and the leaves may have dark spots.

italicum 'Marmoratum' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.