Arisaema ringens (19/04/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Partial shade to full shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, humus rich
Eventual Height: 40cm
Eventual Spread: 30cm
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Araceae
Arisaema ringens is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its glossy dark green leaves are trifoliate. Its leaflets are ovate to elliptic with entire margins, up to 20cm long and 10cm broad. Its deciduous flowers are green and purple striped spathes with a yellow and white spadix and up to 15cm tall. Its red fruit are berries become visible as its spathe withers on female plants. Its roots are tubers which produce a single stalk containing two leaves and a cobra-like flower. This plant goes dormant during the dryer summer months.
Arisaema ringens Flower (19/04/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Arisaema ringens, commonly known as Cobra lily or Arisaema, is native to east China, Japan and Korea. In its native habitat it grows in woodland at low altitude.
The etymological root of the binomial name Arisaema is derived from ari an ancient name for Arum and aima meaning ‘blood’. Ringens is derived from the Latin ringa meaning ‘ring’ or ‘ hoop’.
The landscape architect may find Arisaema ringens useful as an unusual tropical looking plant for shady areas.
Arisaema ringens Leaf (19/04/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Arisaema ringens flowers are pollinated by flies.
Arisaema ringens prefers moist, humus rich. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes dry soils and clayey soils. It will tolerate wet soils.
Arisaema ringens requires little maintenance.
