Dancing Crane Cobra Lily Arisaema heterophyllum
- Phonetic Spelling
- air-uh-SEE-muh het-er-oh-FILL-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Dancing crane cobra lily is an herbaceous perennial native to most of China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. It is a member of the arum family (Araceae). The specific epithet is Greek for “having diverse leaves,” and highlights the leaf plasticity that is common in this species and has caused many misidentifications.
This species is widely grown and well regarded for its ease of culture. The dancing crane cobra lily is adaptable to well-drained, open, humus-rich soils in partial shade. The species grows from a corm, which will multiply in the ground over time. Propagation is by division of the clusters of corms or by seed.
The flower is a long pitcher-shaped green and purple spathe enveloping a prominently long spadix that extends about 1 foot. in spring to summer. The compound leaves are horse-shape with 12 or more leaflets, giving it an unusual appearance.
The dancing crane cobra lily is a good choice for an Asian garden or woodland garden. For a native plant or pollinator garden, the native green dragon (Arisaema dracontium) is a better choice. Use this plant as a ground cover or accent in the border.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arisaema
- Species:
- heterophyllum
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, eastern Asia
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Green and purple spathe in the shape of a pitcher with a 1-foot-long spadix that extends well beyond the spathe.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Papery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The horseshoe-shaped leaf has 12 or more ovate leaflets.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- 3-foot greenflower stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Shade Garden
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
