Dr. Grow: Always something new to learn in horticulture

If you like to learn new things continually, spend some time in the field of horticulture. You never know when someone will show you something unusual or rare. That something may be in the form of a new variety that just hit the market or it may be a plant that has been around for a long time. Either way, something different can be a lot of fun.

I was recently delighted to receive pictures of Dracunculus vulgaris from Barbara Lanpher of Advance, Mo. This plant -- otherwise known by the various common names of dragon lily, voodoo lily, dragon arum and others -- is certainly a striking addition to her landscape.

Barbara told me she purchased a bulb three years ago from Brecks, a mail-order plant vendor. She planted the bulb, which looked similar to that of an elephant ear bulb, in her front yard at a depth of three to four inches. It has produced foliage and a bloom each year.

Early in the spring, the foliage begins to emerge. It is followed by an elongated dark purple bloom, the spathe, with a purple black spadex growing upward. More than one bloom is produced each season. One bloom measured 29 inches long this spring.

Each bloom only lasts for four or five days, and then fades away. Unfortunately the smell the last day of the bloom's life reminds Barbara of something that has died. She was smart not to plant it next to her front door.

The voodoo lily is a native of the Balkans and Mediterranean Europe. In its natural range it is often considered a weed. The seed is spread by various carrion-eating pollinators such as flies. A local native plant similar to the voodoo lily is jack-in-the-pulpit.

Although the voodoo lily looks like a tropical plant, it's rated zone 5 to 8, so it will do well in Southeast Missouri unless we have that occasional extremely cold winter. To protect the bulb from cold extremes, you can mulch it heavily with straw, leaves or hardwood bark mulch.

If you decide to plant one of these bulbs, place it in a full-sun to lightly shaded area. Plant it at a depth of twice the diameter of the bulb. I would add humus or peat moss to the soil in the area in which you are going to plant the bulb. Be sure to place some bone meal under the bulb before planting. Cover the bulb and water it in thoroughly.

I understand the root is toxic. Yet, in native regions, the root is sometimes processed by cooking. It is then pulverized to produce flour used in place of wheat during times of famine.

Keep your eyes open. Talk about plants with your friends. Maybe you too will be delighted when you see something different in a landscape.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian.com.;