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Arisaema dracontium

Dragon Arum · Dragon-root · Green Dragon

Family AraceaeGenus Arisaema

A single large leaf held horizontally, its broad leaflets spreading like a fan from the top of a smooth stem
LeafTie Guy IICC BY 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
1-6 ft0.3-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Gibberellic acid soak

  4. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

7 days from start to sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

40% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100Public domain
Show the original text
Arisaema (Araceae). The Asiatic species were received as dried berries in midwinter and germ. readily at 70 after WC for 7 d. The American species exhibited complex behavior. Germination is hypogeal in all species. The seed forms a corm and root system before sending up the single true leaf. This first true leaf is a single leaflet in A. dracontium, experiments are needed on WC with detergents. Treatment with GA-3 was also tried with the GA-3 applied after the 7 d WC and using seeds collected in October. The data were 70 GA-3(40% in 2-4 w) and 70(22% in 2-5 w). The GA-3 seedlings were normal
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

7 days from start to sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

22% germination in 14–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100Public domain
Show the original text
Arisaema (Araceae). The Asiatic species were received as dried berries in midwinter and germ. readily at 70 after WC for 7 d. The American species exhibited complex behavior. Germination is hypogeal in all species. The seed forms a corm and root system before sending up the single true leaf. This first true leaf is a single leaflet in A. dracontium, experiments are needed on WC with detergents. Treatment with GA-3 was also tried with the GA-3 applied after the 7 d WC and using seeds collected in October. The data were 70 GA-3(40% in 2-4 w) and 70(22% in 2-5 w). The GA-3 seedlings were normal
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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