Dracunculus Vulgaris

Four years ago I saw a rather cool looking flower in a catalog. It was big, shiny, dark and purple. The leaves on the plant looked sort of tropical as well, which would help with the tropical look I was trying to create in my garden. Even better, the plant was called a Dragon Flower. And even better than that, the Latin name was Dracunculus Vulgaris. That has to be the coolest plant name I’ve ever encountered! I got three bulbs and planted them in the back border. Only two of them came up, and they looked pretty sad. The next year, only one came up. It looked awful again, then died to the ground in June. Last year it looked a little better, but still died before July.

This year, the plant looked really healthy. I thought maybe it was going to make it after all. Then I saw flower buds. I couldn’t believe it! It was finally going to bloom! Actually, a more descriptive name would be giant flower-pod spikes. They were huge. I wasn’t disappointed when one finally opened. It was gorgeous. While admiring it, I suddenly remembered something else I had read about these flowers. They are pollinated by flies. In order to draw the flies, they give of the scent of rotting meat. It was stunningly identical to the actual smell of dead animal. After retching, I admired the flower some more. I can’t wait for the other flowers to open.