Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily

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.