Common name:
Dragon Arum

Origin:
Mediterranean area

Minimum temperture:
-15 degrees Celcius

Description:
A very impressive plant from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Southeast Europe. The unusual, sometimes more than 80 cm large flowers, are deep purple in colour and bloom only three or four days a year. They spread an unpleasant odor to attract carrion flies and beetles that ensure fertilization. So each year, it’s a little bit less nice in the garden, but that's a bit of the charm of this species. The leaves and the stems are graceful spotted and die during the fall, to grow again in spring from the underground tuber. The species is hardy to about -15 degrees Celsius.

Germination instructions:
Sow seeds in sowing mix and let them germinate at around 20 degC. Keep the soil constantly moist. 

Sowing time:
January - June

Difficulty:
Intermediate

Photo 2: Richard Lion via Kingsiraq