When does green dragon bloom?

Arisaema dracontium blooms in May and June, sending up a narrow greenish spadix that peeks out from a hood-shaped spathe.

What pollinates Arisaema dracontium?

Beetles are the main pollinators visiting the small, greenish flowers clustered along the spadix.

What light and moisture does green dragon need?

It grows best in part shade with soil that stays consistently moist to wet, similar to conditions in bottomland forests and along stream edges.

Does Arisaema dracontium die back in winter?

Yes, it is a deciduous perennial. The foliage dies back after the growing season and the plant regrows each spring from an underground corm.

Is Dragon-arum HOA-friendly?

Dragon-arum takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Dragon-arum

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Arisaema dracontium

Last reviewed: August 2026

Arisaema dracontium, or green dragon, blooms in May and June with a slender greenish flower spike, growing best in part shade and consistently moist, rich soil such as floodplain woods and stream banks.

Toxicity unknown

Dragon-arum (Arisaema dracontium) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 29 more states

Pollinators

beetles

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Dragon-arum is a unique native woodland plant that produces a distinctive hooded flower spike in late spring, followed by a single large leaf that resembles a small umbrella. The plant goes completely dormant by midsummer, disappearing underground until the following spring.

Growing Dragon-arum

Grow Dragon-arum in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Dragon-arum takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Completely disappears by midsummer leaving bare spots
Unusual appearance may be considered too exotic or strange
Single large leaf can look sparse or incomplete

Wildlife value

This plant primarily attracts beetles for pollination with its specialized flower structure. It provides habitat for woodland insects but has limited overall wildlife value compared to other native plants.

Common questions

When does green dragon bloom?: Arisaema dracontium blooms in May and June, sending up a narrow greenish spadix that peeks out from a hood-shaped spathe.
What pollinates Arisaema dracontium?: Beetles are the main pollinators visiting the small, greenish flowers clustered along the spadix.
What light and moisture does green dragon need?: It grows best in part shade with soil that stays consistently moist to wet, similar to conditions in bottomland forests and along stream edges.
Does Arisaema dracontium die back in winter?: Yes, it is a deciduous perennial. The foliage dies back after the growing season and the plant regrows each spring from an underground corm.
Is Dragon-arum HOA-friendly?: Dragon-arum takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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