The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: green-dragon, dragonroot, dragon-arum

Family: Araceae (arum family)

Synonym: Arum dracontium

Distribution: c. and e. North America

Habitat: Mesic to wet deciduous woods, thickets, and bottoms; 30--1200 m

Hardiness: USDA Zone 4

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber)

Usage: Ornamental

Comments: Green dragon is related to Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and is one of the more unusual spring wildflowers. Plants will grow up to 2.5 feet tall and each one consists of a single leaf and flowering stalk. The leaf has a long, waxy pale green petiole and is divided up into 5-15 leaflets. The flower, made up of a spathe and spadix, is produced on a smooth whitish green stalk. The spathe wraps around the spadix, which is cylindrical at the base and then tapers to a long point. The spadix bears male and/or female flowers that turn into orange-red berries by the end of summer. Green dragon is somewhat uncommon, usually found in woodlands and areas close to spring or vernal pools, but not in great abundance.