ARACEAE - D. vulgaris - syn. Arum dracunculus (Dragon arum)  Tuberous perennial with pedate, dark green basal leaves, 12 in. or more long, marked purple-brown.  In spring or summer, odorous, maroon-purple spathes 24-39 in. long, with erect, near-black spadices, are produced above the leaves.  May reach 5 feet in height.  Common to the E. Mediterranean - Zones 8-10.

Here in Zone 6 mind you, I started one Dracuncula about five years ago.  They are not native to this area (grow wild in Greece).  However, mine have multiplied year after year.  The scent is not as bad as the stories told about them, but they are a bit vulgar looking!  I wear gloves when harvesting the seeds, when they are red/orange you squeeze each one and it may bear up to 3-5 seeds in each.  Let them dry a day or so and then plant immediately.

April 20, 2002 Looks like spotted palm leaves	April 20, 2003	Big Daddy 33" spathe
Huge Maroon Leaf & Spathe	Flowering June 10, 2002	Seed Pod July 1, 2002 Seeds turn red/orange ripened
July 7, 2002 Eventually cover with stocking	August 18, 2002 Seed pod ripening on plant - harvest time	March 24, 2003 Just coming up
April 5, 2003 Eight or so	April 17, 2003 They are really popping up now.	13 Dracs 4/23/03
3 At Walkway	Really Popping Up	June 2, 2003
	Spathes Growing Large	June 13, 2003
One Clump Open	Another Big Daddy	Closed Clump June 16, 2003
Spathe June 16, 2003	The Giants	Big Spathes will Get the Pods
Last Big Clump to Open	Two Dracs 6/12/2005	Dracuncula Vulgaris 6/12/05
Many June 12, 2005	Double 2007	June 2007

Dracs in 2005 are coming up stronger than ever!

Dracs in 2008 on June 2, 2008