How to Grow Mandragora Officinarum

Mandragora officinarum belongs to the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. The long roots resemble a carrot or parsnip. This root tuber is native to central and southern Europe, areas of the Mediterranean Sea.



Also known as mandrake, this herbaceous perennial features a rosette of ovate-oblong leaves at the soil surface. Crinkled leaves with a lighter central vein measure 6 to 16 inches long. Flowers with whitish-green petals measure about 2 inches across. Flowers blossom from March to April. In late spring, the mandrake bears round, orange to red berries.



As mandrake is not frost-tender, this member of the Solanaceae family is hardy to USDA Zone 7, with an average annual minimum temperature range of 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Things You'll Need

• Mandragora officinarum seed
• Soil, well-drained
• Deep pot or flat
• Fertilizer
• Insecticide
• Fungicide

Instructions

1. Select a bright site outside with direct sunlight. Because this nightshade’s habitat includes woodland gardens, and areas of dappled shade, this plant can also live in areas of semi-shade or no shade.

2. Sow seeds singly in pots or in deep flats. Consider a light sandy or medium loamy soil with an acid to neutral pH balance. Mandrake can be appropriate for a rock garden.

3. Water the mandrake well in the summer, once every one to two weeks.

4. In spring, when the mandrake is in leaf and flower, apply fertilizer to the irrigation water every 20 to 25 days. Consider a specific fertilizer appropriate for flowering plants. Mix a granular slow-release fertilizer in the soil.

5. At the end of August, transplant the mandrake to well-drained, light and deep soil to accommodate the extensive root. Space them at least 2 feet apart from one another.

Tips & Warnings

• If the Mandrake is susceptible to aphid attacks, consider an insecticide. Check with garden centers for permissible insecticides in your area.

• Beware of fungal pathogens that thrive in mild and damp climate. Prevent fungus by applying a systemic fungicide. Check with garden centers for permissible fungicides in your area.

• In winter, do not allow the soil to become too wet. Consequences can include root rot.

References

• Plants for a future: Mandragora Officinarum
• University of Connecticut: Mandragora Officinarum L.
• Mandrake Mandragora Officinarum