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Dragon-Root Arisaema dracontium

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Arisaema boscii
  • Arisaema plukenetii
  • Muricauda dracontium
Phonetic Spelling
air-uh-SEE-muh drak-on'-ti-um
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Green Dragon is a native herbaceous perennial plant in the Arum family. It is native to eastern and central Canada and the USA from Quebec to TX and is found growing in damp woods. In NC it is mostly found in the Piedmont but scattered in the coastal plain and mountains.

The plant grows from a corm and sends up a single large compound leaf in spring. The flower that follows is a Jack-in-the-pulpit type bloom as they are related. This is followed by a cluster of red fruits the birds enjoy. The plant dies down in late summer.

'Green Dragon' grows in fertile, moist, slightly acidic woodland soils in part to full shade. Grow along streams or ponds, in the woodland setting, under trees and shrubs or native shade gardens.

 

More information on Arisaema.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Shaded Slope
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#rain garden#white flowers#green flowers#shade garden#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#spadix#spathe#red fruits#food source summer#flowers early summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#food source soft mast fruit#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#wildflower#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#rain garden#white flowers#green flowers#shade garden#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#spadix#spathe#red fruits#food source summer#flowers early summer#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#food source soft mast fruit#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#wildflower#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Arisaema
    Species:
    dracontium
    Family:
    Araceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in rituals by Native Americans
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    E. Canada, eastern and central USA, to NE. Mexico
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: ON , QC
    Edibility:
    The root is considered edible once it has been dried, aged and processed. Has been used in herbal medicine.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    Club-shaped cluster of many berries in late summer. Start out green and mature to dark red.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spadix
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    This plant has slender, tapered, greenish-white spadix exceeding the length of the narrow, pointed spathe. It is 4 in. long. Blooms in May. Jack-in-the-pulpit type bloom
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Generally produces 1 large compound leaf with a long stem and 7-13 leaflets that are held out horizontally over the plant.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Irritation and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat if it is eaten raw
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Calcium oxalate crystals and other toxins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems