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Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily

Dracunculus vulgaris
Dragon Lily, Dragon arum, Black dragon, Black arum, Brook leek

4,7/5
5 reviews
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I have just moved to a new region and I am so happy to find serpentaria plants on the website (which I left in my old garden). They are very beautiful plants with a strong flower scent, but it is so unique. Do not plant them too close to the house. The package arrived in perfect condition. They are frost-resistant and disappear in order to grow back in the spring.

Andrée, 20/03/2024

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More information

In spring, this Mediterranean cousin of arums produces a striped stem bearing a shiny green leaf cut into leaflets. In June, it develops an enormous spathe in the shape of long cone. It is dark purple and velvety inside, surrounding a long black column. This flowering gives off a smell of rotten meat. It is very easy to grow in warm gardens, and is happy in the sun as well as in the undergrowth. This tuberous plant can also be grown in pots in colder regions, which means it can be protected from heavy frosts in winter and excessive rain in summer.
Flower size
30 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
60 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -9°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time February to April, October to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Dracunculus vulgaris, also known as dragon arum or snake plant, is a spectacular tuberous plant with an evil charm. Its flowering is astonishing, both for its appearance of an enormous cone of purple velvet and its shocking smell. This cousin of arums is an authentic botanical curiosity. It has naturalised in the Mediterranean region, where it grows in rocky terrain and under deciduous trees. It can also be grown in colder regions by protecting the stump well in winter. Whether in the ground or in pots, this unique creation deserves a prominent position. However, avoid placing in a windy spot that will blow its fragrance towards your visitors!

 

Dracunculus vulgaris belongs to the Araceae family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the eastern Mediterranean, specifically from an area ranging from Albania to Crete and Turkey. It can also be found in Italy, southern France, Corsica, and even North Africa. Its mature size depends on growing conditions, and can vary from 60cm (24in) to 1.5m (5ft) in height.

Its bulb is a round and flat tuber. In February-March, it produces a stem striped with dark green, pale green, and black-brown, which quickly elongates and thickens. The pattern on the stem has given it the name of snake plant. The stem bears large triangular leaves measuring 40 to 45cm (16 to 18in) wide, divided into 5 to 15 lobes. They are shiny dark green, sometimes speckled with white. In May-June, the foliage begins to dry and the inflorescence develops at the tip of the stem. It takes the form of a large elongated cone, green in colour, with undulated and curled purple edges. Its size varies from 15cm (6in) in the first year to 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in length on a mature plant, but it can exceed 1m (3ft) if the plant grows in deep and rich soil. The cone gradually unfurls, revealing a superb velvety interior of a deep red to dark Bordeaux colour. A large black column called the spadix sits in the centre. This spadix serves as the receptacle for tiny flowers, with the male flowers located on its upper part and the female flowers at the bottom. The female flowers mature before the male flowers and emit a carrion-like odour until they are fertilised. The "scent" then disappears. Pollination is cross-pollination, carried out by flies and beetles that bring mature pollen from another spathe to the female flowers of the first plant. The bright orange rounded fruits are toxic. This plant also multiplies through small tubercles that form around the parent tuber. The plant goes into dormancy in summer, thus escaping drought and summer heat.

 

In the past, people from the countryside of the Mediterranean region called it the snake arum. They placed the plant beside their front doors (!), perhaps to ward off evil spirits or temporarily keep away snakes and unwanted visitors from the house. We still recommend planting it near your home to enjoy its spectacular flowering, but do take into account the direction of the prevailing wind! Plant the tuber deeply in the ground. It will withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F) if you apply a thick mulch to its stump in winter. Dracunculus vulgaris can be planted at the base of deciduous trees, against a wall, or in a natural bed with euphorbias, bear's breeches, and variegated ivy used as ground cover.

 

Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily in pictures

Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily (Flowering) Flowering
Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily (Foliage) Foliage
Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 60 cm
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour red
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Spadix
Flower size 30 cm
Fragrance Fragrant, Unpleasant smell of rotten meat.

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green

Botanical data

Genus

Dracunculus

Species

vulgaris

Family

Araceae

Other common names

Dragon Lily, Dragon arum, Black dragon, Black arum, Brook leek

Origin

Mediterranean

Product reference155491

Planting and care

Ideally, it should be planted in September, or at the latest in early spring. In warm regions, the plant grows in the sun or in the dappled shade of the undergrowth. In cooler regions, choose a warm location protected from the cold, in front of a hedge or a south-facing wall. The soil should be well-prepared, loose, rich, and well-drained. Plant the tubers deeply (20 to 30cm (8 to 12in)). Place a layer of gravel under the tuber to isolate it from excessive moisture. A thick winter mulch provides better protection against the cold. Under these conditions, Dracunculus vulgaris can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F).

The plant requires water from late winter until the end of spring, during its growth and flowering period. Watering, however, is unnecessary and even discouraged during the summer dormancy period. Excessively moist soil in winter is also detrimental. You can apply a good base fertiliser or a shovelful of compost mixed with ashes every autumn, as this will promote growth. The more reserves the tuber stores, the more it will flower and the larger its flowers will be.

Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time February to April, October to November
Planting depth 30 cm

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -9°C (USDA zone 8b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 3 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-draining, loamy, rich.

Care

Pruning instructions Remove the faded floral stems.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time July
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Needs protection
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