How to Grow Dracunculus Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Dragon Arum, Voodoo Lily, and Snake Lily

Members of Dracunculus are small to medium plants that are hardy perennials.

They bloom in the early months of summer with blood red flowers, that have a strong harmful odour.

Common names for Dracunculus include Dragon Arum and Dragon plant.

Dracunculus vulgaris
Dracunculus vulgaris - Dragon Lily by albategnius.

Dracunculus Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Dragon Arum, Dragon Plant, Voodoo Lily, Snake Lily, Black Dragon.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
Height: 18 to 36 inches (45 to 90 cm).
Native: Mediterranean. Atlantic Islands of the Canaries and Madeira.
Growing Region: Zones 7 to 10.
Flowers: Early summer.
Flower Details: Red, Purple. Dracunculus have a distinctive Spadix and Spathe. Pungent fragrance.
Foliage: Herbaceous. Green. Streaked. Reniform.
Sow Outside:
Tuber: 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm). Autumn. Spacing 12 inches (30 cm).
Seeds: Cover. Autumn.
Sow Inside: Germination time: one to six months. Temperature: 60 to 65°F (16 to 18°C). Sow at the end of winter or the start of spring. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements and care: Full or partial shade. Good drainage. Rich Soil, Humus, Alkaline soil. Mix in organic material. Spring mulch. Regular watering during the growing period. Propagate: by dividing in the autumn.
Miscellaneous: Its fragrance attracts masses of flies, so you may need to think carefully about which part of the garden that you grow Dracunculus.

How to Grow Dragon Arum (Dracunculus)

When growing Dragon Arum outdoors, the seed should be sown into a shaded part of the garden that has good drainage in the Autumn. The seed should be lightly covered with topsoil. Dracunculus likes to grow in an organic soil. If you first plan to start Dragon Arum off indoors then preparation should be started at the end of winter to the beginning of spring.

It will take anything from one to six months for the plants to germinate at a temperature of 13 to 18 degrees Centigrade. Once ready the young Dragon Arum plants should be planted in the garden with a spacing of about 30 cm.

Caring for Dracunculus Plants in the Garden

Once Dracunculus plants are established, it is important to keep the soil moist that the plant is growing in (it can be left alone during the winter months). If you require more Dragon Arum's then they can be divided in the autumn.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Dracunculus plants. Updated September 2020.