Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)

sure to cause certain death, but possessing it - and caring for it like a child - held the promise of wealth and success.

In Europe, two Mandrake species are native and can be grown from seed, the common mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) and the autumn mandrake (Mandragora autumnalis). This cultivar, mandragora officinarum, blooms in spring and is a little more difficult to care for than the one flowering in autumn.

Caution: The whole plant is very poisonous and is particularly dangerous for children!

Growing instructions

The Mandrake is a cold-germinator. The sowing must be kept cold for a period of some weeks (refrigerator) or you sow them in very early spring or autumn. Mix the seeds with damp sand in a plastic bag. The sowing must be kept warm (about 20°C / 64 to 72°F and moist for the first 2-4 weeks. After this period place it in your refrigerator at a temperature of 5°C (between 25 and 39°F) for 5 to 6 weeks. After that take the bag out and keep it at room temperature. Check for sprouted seed regulary.

10 Mandrake Seeds (Mandragora officinarum)