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Gardening in the UK

Dracunculus vulgaris

21 years ago

Hi Can anyone tell me how to look after the voodoo lily in eastern England? I have just discovered that I have one in my garden today thanks to garden web but i'm not sure how to look after it in my climate. pleased for any help.

Mandy

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Comments (6)

merilus
21 years ago
I don't know about Eastern England, but they seem to be perfectly hardy and trouble-free here in Surrey. I just leave mine to get on with it.
dadsfreesia
Original Author
21 years ago
thank you merilus, it's comforting to know that they will survive in this country. I think they are fascinating and will continual to do what I am doing, it must be working.
Mandy
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brian2cv
21 years ago
Voodoo lily usually refers to Sauromatum venosum rather than Dracunculus, but I think they need similar conditions so not a problem. Neither like winter wet or heavy soil, is my recollection, and both grow on my dry chalky soil, Dracunculus better than Sauromatum.

Brian
merilus
21 years ago
I'm gardening on heavy clay soil, but they seem to be OK in my garden. I suspect that they would do even better on dry chalk, though. They come from Crete, don't they?
Sassy_Pumpkins
21 years ago
I have them in my garden also, and they were planted when I knew nothing about gardening and so I never lifted them and they've not had any problems, they come up every year. Our soil is rich, and well drained, but we do get a lot of winter rain, though very little freezing. I was shocked when I learned they shouldn't be surviving where they are, but, I figure they obviously don't know they aren't meant to grow so I'm not going to tell them or jinx it by moving them. It's left me to think they must be hardier than they are given credit.

Mandy, if you've not planted it, is it possible that it's been there for more than a season? It's one of those delemas that no matter how much advice you get, you are still going to have to decide for yourself if you are willing to chance it or if you want to be cautious with it. It's a very peculiar plant and one of the reasons I enjoy it, but whatever you choose to do, I hope you also get lots of enjoyment from it!
Warmest Wishes
Shelley
hen11
21 years ago
like most other aroids similar to dracunculus (sauromatum, amorphophallus, ect...) they like very rich, well drained but moist soil.

just dig a pit of perlite or bark into the bit of soil they are growing on and they should be fine. I would really watch out for rot in the winter, they are VERY susceptible. if you want a better plant, you could dig it up after it dies down and replant it in spring

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