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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shaded Slope
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
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
