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
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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 grows in damp woods. In NC it is mostly found in the Piedmont but scattered in the coastal plain and mountains. Genus name comes from the Greek words aris meaning "arum" and aima meaning "red", due to the red-blotched leaves found on some species
'Green Dragon' grows in fertile, moist, slightly acidic woodland soils in partial to full shade. Does not tolerate heavy clay. It will grow 1-3 feet tall with a 1-1.5 foot spread. Propagation is by division or seeds.
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.
Use green dragon in a shady garden, naturalized area, native garden or along streams or ponds. Plant with other shade lovers as ferns and hostas that will fill in the area once green dragon goes dormant. Please do not disturb plants in the wild as they are somewhat uncommon.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shaded Slope
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- 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
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- 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. The tiny male and female flowers are near the bottom of the spadix inside the spathe.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Generally produces 1 large compound leaf with a long stem and 7-13 leaflets that are held out horizontally over the plant. Each leaflet is up to 8 inches long and 2-2.5 inches across. The petiole is up ti 2 feet tall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- 2 foot tall green smooth and glaucous petiole
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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
