Cobra Lily Arisaema ringens
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Cobra Lily:
Previously known as:
- A. praecox
- A. sieboldii
- non L. Arum ringens
- Phonetic Spelling
- air-uh-SEE-muh RIN-jens
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Cobra Lily is a perennial plant with a tuberous root that is native to Asia and looks tropical. Genus name Arisaema actually is composed of two Greek words aris (referring to the spathe) and aima (referring to some of the species that have red on their leaves).
The species is dioecious meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant. Therefore, both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. They are sometimes monoecious and can also change sex from year to year. The plant is pollinated by flies. Tubers should be planted about 10cm deep. Only plant out full-sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Part Sun-Part Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Black Mamba'
Purple stem and dark purple and white striped spathe.
- 'Black Mamba'
- 'Black Mamba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Black Mamba'
Purple stem and dark purple and white striped spathe.
- 'Black Mamba'
- 'Black Mamba'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arisaema
- Species:
- ringens
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Korea, Japan
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The plant is pollinated by flies.
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heavy shade, wet soil
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Description:
- This plant has a spathe that is striped in green and purple in contrast to the spadix/spike which has hues of yellow and white.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaflets are about 7 inches long, and the leaves are trifoliate.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Dull
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
