Bog arum is a strong, perennial herbaceous plant that often forms large colonies. Its greenish-white spiky flowers bloom from June to July. The inflorescence is protected by a large and white spathe. After blooming, the bog arum grows bright red berries.

Bog arum thrives in wet habitats like spruce mires, swamps, trenches and sides of streams, ponds and lakes. Its area of distribution covers Central-, Eastern- and Northern Europe, Northern Asia and northern parts of North America.

Bog arum is highly poisonous. However, it has been used as food during poor times in Finland because its roots contain a great deal of starch. Most of the poisonous substances evaporate when the roots are boiled or air-dried but the taste still remains sharp. Bog arum is also one of the species capable of overgrowing waterways.

As a common species bog arum requires no conservation measures to secure its occurrence.