The strange and unusual Dragon Arum or Snake Lily, aka Dracunculus vulgaris, despite its exotic look, can be grown relatively easily in a partially shaded garden in zones 5-8. These photos are of a specimen at the Niagara Parks' School of Horticulture & Botanical Gardens.
Even the foliage is ornamental, with the large, ruffled leaves arranged in sets of three and consisting of a snake-skin pattern.
Of course the flower is the main attraction with the purple-red spathe sending up an almost black "jack" (or spadix).
At some point in the maturing process, the flower begins to small like carrion for about a day, attracting flies to do their pollination business. This particular specimen did not smell yet, thankfully.
Here's to dirt under your nails.
Mark, the coolplantsguy
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