Dracunculus Vulgaris - Dragon Arum - Autumn care

I leave mine alone and the top growth disintegrates over winter and new growth comes through in the spring. I hope you realise that when it is in flower, it smells of rotting meat! (to attract the flies that polinate it)

Thanks Andrew, Yes I do realise this beautiful plant has its down side........................TTFN

Hi Andrew. About the smell, I've read that it only lasts for a limited time, in your experience how long does it last, days or weeks?? Thanks

Just while it's in flower (which is not very long, two to three weeks if I recall) - it's attracting pollinators. As I don't have much of a sense of smell, it doesn't bother me!

Oh, that long eh?? I'll give it a go, if I don't like it i'll donate it to my toddlers nursery garden, kids love foul smelling things!!!

Hi Andrea, hope you don't mind me butting in, but i would check weather or not it is toxic before you let your toddler near it, i know that some Arums are toxic, not sure about this plant but i think it is related to Zantedeschia.

"The root is toxic, but has been gathered & processed by cooking & pounding to obtain edible starch called Arum Arrowroot, with which to pad out wheat flour in times of limited resources or famine." (The source of this information is -http://www.paghat.com/voodoolily.html). The plant has already been put in a large heavy pot with horticultural gravel on the top. I have lots of other fun stuff planned for the toddlers to do with seeds and herbs in the Spring so I doubt they will even get an opportunity to have any contact with the root of the plant. Thanks for pointing this out, I didn't think to check, but I've never come across any reference to toxicity whilst researching Dragon Arums.

i had a look actually last night in my book which gives info on toxic plants and there was no mention of it being a problem in there. i know what you mean tho i have a 2 year old and i do try to research everything in the back garden before i put it in, but a few things have slipped through the net, that i have later had to move to the front - she does'nt go out there because we live on a main road. but great minds think a like, i have just made her a little flower bed of her own and bought some really easy seeds sunflowers carrots etc... thought i'd let her have a go with them in the spring ... far better to keep them amused than let them amuse themselves i think! lol