Arisaema ringens
It’s hard to imagine anything more spectacular than this easy-to-grow tropical-looking cobra lily, Arisaema ringens. Sitting between the two giant, glossy green, trifoliate leaves on a short petiole (stalk) in early spring is the spectacular cobra-like flower. The thick, purple- and white-striped spathe resembles a perfectly formed cobra head as the tip of the flower curls downward, revealing the glossy purple interior and two “cobra eyes.” Looking at the flower head of Arisaema ringens from the front is enough to give you mongoose bumps.
