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Green arrow arum

Peltandra virginica

Last reviewed: September 2026

Green arrow arum grows in marshes, swamps and shallow streambanks across the eastern and midwestern United States, blooming from April through June in part sun to shaded wetland habitats.

Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica)
Photo: (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay

Toxicity unknown

Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) 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 sun

Water

high

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 30 more states

Pollinators

beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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An emergent wetland perennial with large, glossy, arrow-shaped leaves rising directly from thick rhizomes in shallow water or saturated soil. Produces an upright greenish-white spathe and spadix in late spring. Requires standing water or constant saturation and is best suited to a pond margin or rain garden feature.

Growing Green arrow arum

Grow Green arrow arum in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Green arrow arum is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • requires standing water or a pond feature which may look unconventional in a manicured landscape

Wildlife value

Its flowers attract small beetles as pollinators, and waterfowl feed on the seeds and rhizomes.

Common questions

What kind of site does Green arrow arum need?
Green arrow arum does best in consistently wet or shallowly flooded soil, such as pond edges, marshes and slow streambanks, with part sun to shade.
When does Green arrow arum bloom?
Green arrow arum typically flowers from April through June, producing a green spathe that partly wraps its spadix.
What pollinates Green arrow arum?
Beetles are the main pollinators of Green arrow arum, visiting the enclosed spadix inside the spathe.
Is Green arrow arum evergreen?
No. Green arrow arum is deciduous, dying back to its rootstock each fall and resprouting from wetland mud in spring.
Is Green arrow arum HOA-friendly?
Green arrow arum is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

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

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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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Ready to grow Green arrow arum? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.