About

Arisaema serratum is a herbaceous perennial that reaches a height of up to 1 meter during the summer. It typically features one or two divided green leaves, each consisting of 7 to 13 leaflets. In the months of May and June, it produces spathes that may be green or display purple stripes, accompanied by a green spadix.

About the genus

Arisaema consists primarily of tuberous perennials characterized by palmately lobed foliage. They feature unique tubular, hooded spathes that enclose small true flowers clustered at the base of a club-shaped or filamentous spadix. After flowering, these plants produce a spike bearing red berries.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full shade, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H4

Plant details

Plant type
Conservatory Greenhouse, Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Columnar upright
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.5-1 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Toxicity
Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in a cool site. In colder regions may need winter protection but tubers must not dry out when dormant
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring. Offsets may be removed in late summer
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to slugs and vine weevil
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free