Arisaema tortuosum

Description

Arisaema tortuosum, the whipcord cobra lily, is a plant of remarkable poise and eccentric beauty. Towering up to 1.5m, its tall stems bear elegant leaves divided into slender leaflets that fan out like green feathers in dappled shade. In late spring to early summer, the flowers appear above the foliage—hooded green spathes from which a long, sinuous spadix rises and curves outward, as if searching the air. Sometimes purple, sometimes green, this graceful whip lends the plant its distinctive common name whipcord cobra lily and a sense of movement rarely found in garden perennials.

As summer wanes, the drama continues: the fading foliage reveals brilliant orange heads of berries that gleam like jewels against the darkening soil. Hardy and architectural, Arisaema tortuosum thrives in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil and partial shade, where it stands as a striking focal point or natural companion to ferns and hostas. Both exotic and dependable, the whipcord cobra lily brings a touch of theatre to the woodland garden—one that evolves beautifully from spring to autumn.