Dragon arum is an tuberous, herbaceous perennial native to the rocky hills and slopes of the Mediterranean in the Araceae (arum) family. It is found in Greece, Crete, the A egean Islands and Turkey. The genus name means small dragon referring to the shape of the leaves resembling dragon feet. The species name means common. The large lobed leaves occur in clusters on a purple pseudostem and can be up to 12 inches long. In late spring to early summer, a large flower called a spadix appears. The spathe is up to 20 inches tall and 8 inches wide and surrounds a central spike called a spadix. The spadix consists of small flowers with male flowers on top and female flowers below. This can be as tall or taller than the spathe. The foul smell of the flower attracts flies and beetles for pollination. Once inside the spadix, it is difficult for the insects to fly off until pollination is complete in a day or so. Then the flower begins to wither. Berries are then formed that mature to red-orange and attract birds. Dragon arum prefers full sun to partial shade in fertile moist loam. It is drought-tolerant and deer resistant. It spreads by seeding and bulb off-sets that can be divided. Use this plant as an accent or specimen but be aware of the foul odor from the flower and plant away from windows, doors or seating areas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Palmasect; Reniform
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The large leaves are fan-shaped and palmately divided with 9-15 finger-like lobes. They grow up to 12 inches long, are dark green and often mottled with white. Leaves appear in clusters of 2-4 on a black to purple-spotted pseudostem.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spadix
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Maroon tubular spadix flower with unpleasant fragrance. The spathe is up to 20 inches tall and 8 inches wide with wavy margins and surrounds a central spike called a spadix. The spadix consists of small flowers with male flowers on top and female flowers below and can vary in color. This can be as tall or taller than the spathe and 1/2 inch wide. Blooms April to July
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Pear-shaped berries are initially green and orange-red when ripe
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
The pseudostem is pale to light grey green with numerous jagged dark purple to almost black markings
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Greece, Crete and the Aegean Islands and Turkey
Wildlife value
Birds will eat the berries. Flies and beetles are attracted to the flower
Attracts
Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; English Garden; Garden for the Blind