Arisaema dracontium
green dragon
Overview
Arisaema dracontium is a woodland perennial in the arum family, growing from an underground corm to 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) tall. Each plant usually produces a single long-stalked leaf divided into 7 to 15 leaflets arranged in a horseshoe or fan shape. The flower structure appears in late spring as a narrow green spathe wrapped around a slender spadix whose tip extends 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) beyond the spathe in a tapering, tongue-like point that gives the plant its common name. The tiny flowers are clustered at the base of the spadix, hidden within the spathe. By late summer the pollinated flowers ripen into a tight cluster of red-orange berries on a short stalk after the leaf has faded. All parts contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense burning and swelling of the mouth and throat if chewed and can irritate skin. The species grows in moist, rich floodplain forests, stream banks, and shaded bottomlands across eastern North America. It needs consistently moist, fertile soil and deep shade, and it goes fully dormant by late summer, leaving a bare gap in the planting.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and Texas, mainly in moist bottomland forests.Suggested Uses
Used in shaded native woodland and rain gardens and in moist, naturalized borders where its tongue-like flower form draws interest, spaced 10-18 inches (25-45 cm) apart. It pairs with ferns and later-emerging perennials that fill the gap left when it goes dormant.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight