Pinellia (Pinellia pedatisecta)

Overview

Pinellia pedatisecta, often known by its common name Pinellia or the descriptive ‘green dragon,’ brings distinctive and exotic texture to shady garden spaces. This tuberous herbaceous perennial is native to the forested slopes of China and Japan and belongs to the Araceae family, closely related to Jack-in-the-pulpit. Gardeners appreciate Pinellia for its compound, fan-shaped basal leaves and its unique summer inflorescence that mimics a dragon’s tongue.

While it offers significant aesthetic value, prospective growers must be aware that Pinellia pedatisecta possesses aggressive spreading habits. It can quickly colonize an area through offsets, bulbils, and self-seeding, making careful siting essential. This feature, however, makes it excellently suited for naturalizing rapidly in appropriate, contained woodland settings.

The distinctive flower structure emerges in mid-summer, featuring a pale green spathe partially enveloping a pale yellow spadix, making the Pinellia a fascinating plant for close observation. Providing it with the correct, moist, humus-rich soil ensures healthy growth, though this plant commands medium maintenance due to its desire to spread.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Araceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Native Range: Northern and western China, Japan
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.75-1.5 ft
  • Spread: 0.5-1 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: Spathe (pale green) and spadix (pale yellow)
• Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

Establish Pinellia pedatisecta in the spring or fall in locations offering part shade to full shade. The soil medium is critical for success; ensure the area is moist, rich, fertile, humusy, and crucially, well-drained. While it tolerates full shade, performance is generally best when protected from intense afternoon sun.

Water requirements are medium; maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during dry spells, but avoid soggy conditions which can compromise the underground tubers. Fertilization is usually not required if the native humusy soil conditions are replicated, as rich organic matter provides sufficient nutrition for this perennial.

Be proactive regarding its spread. Pinellia plants can spread very aggressively throughout the garden via offsets from the tubers, bulbils that develop at the base of leaf petioles, and self-seeding. To limit self-seeding, you can remove the flower stalks before seeds mature. While reports suggest hardiness into Zone 4, some experts caution that performance may decline north of Zone 6.

Landscape Uses

The robust naturalizing capability of Pinellia makes it invaluable for filling large, shady understory areas where other ornamentals struggle. It is highly recommended for creating naturalistic woodland gardens, allowing the plant to weave through native groundcovers and established trees. Its texture also works well in rock gardens, provided the crevices retain sufficient moisture and organic matter.

When using Pinellia pedatisecta in design, think about contrast. Its bold, segmented leaves provide a strong counterpoint to finer-textured ferns or low-growing hostas thriving in sun-dappled areas. However, site selection requires strict forethought; avoid planting this species in natural areas or open garden beds where its aggressive spread cannot be easily managed or tolerated.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Fruit Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Pinellia pedatisecta, commonly known as green dragon or fan-leaf Chinese green dragon, is a tuberous herbaceous perennial that is native to shady woodland areas, forested slopes and valleys in northern and western China. It is the tallest member of this genus of diminutive aroids, typically rising to 10-18” tall. Each compound, pedate, medium green, basal leaf has 7-11 ovate to lance-shaped segments. Rising above the leaves in summer are naked flower spikes topped by a calla-lily-like structure where the spadix protrudes like a dragon’s tongue as suggested by the common name.

Tolerances

• Deer

Potential Problems

The primary concern with Pinellia pedatisecta is its aggressive perennial nature; it spreads readily and removal can be difficult once established. Always choose planting sites critically; refrain from introducing this plant to areas where its vigorous colonization presents a risk. Furthermore, gardeners should exercise caution when acquiring plants identified only as “green dragon,” as it can be easily mistaken for the North American native Arisaema dracontium. Confirmation of identification should be made by observing the inflorescence, where P. pedatisecta features a spadix partially fused within the spathe, unlike A. dracontium.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Pinellia suitable for?

Pinellia pedatisecta is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9, making it versatile across much of the temperate growing regions.

How large does Pinellia grow?

This species typically reaches a modest height between 0.75 and 1.5 feet tall, with a spread ranging from 0.5 to 1 foot wide.

What sun exposure does Pinellia need?

This plant prefers part shade conditions but can successfully grow in full shade, thriving best when sheltered from intense midday heat.

When does Pinellia bloom?

The blooming period for this Pinellia occurs during the summer, generally from June to August, showcasing a distinctive pale green spathe and spadix.

Conclusion

The unique foliage and exotic summer bloom make Pinellia pedatisecta a valuable addition for gardeners seeking texture in deeply shaded environments. Remember that due to its aggressive spreading habit, appropriate siting is paramount when incorporating this Pinellia into your landscape plan. Always check your local hardiness zone compatibility before planting in the upcoming season.

Companion Planting

Since Pinellia pedatisecta requires consistently moist, rich, humusy soil and part-to-full shade, companion plants should share these woodland requirements. Excellent partners include various Ferns such as Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum) or Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), which offer contrasting, fine textures. Low-growing Epimediums (Barrenwort) or shade-loving Hellebores (Helleborus) provide excellent, complementary groundcover that won’t aggressively compete with the spreading tubers of the Pinellia.

Propagation Tips

The primary way Pinellia colonizes an area is naturally through vegetative means, which also provides the easiest method for planned propagation. In late summer or early fall, once the foliage begins to decline, you can carefully dig up the main tuber and separate the offsets or small “daughter” tubers attached to the primary mass. These offsets can be immediately replanted elsewhere in the garden or potted up individually to manage their spread intensity. While Pinellia pedatisecta is capable of self-seeding via those showy fall berries, division of the tubers is generally a faster and more reliable method for increasing your stock.