Mandragora officinarum MANDRAKE (10 seeds)

Mandrake or Mandragora officinarum, is a slow-growing perennial herb with a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. It reaches 30 to 60 cm in diameter.
It is native to the Mediterranean basin, found in Spain, Greece, southern Italy, and Turkey; unfortunately, this esoteric herb is becoming increasingly rare in the wild.
Note: Do not be surprised if it disappears during the summer; unlike most other plants, it is in vegetative dormancy from spring to summer. It will grow back from September until May.

Mandrake leaves are thick with large white veins, arranged in a wide rosette spread directly on the ground. Oval and puckered, they have wavy edges and can reach thirty centimeters in length. Their dark green color and rough texture contrast with the monumental root hidden beneath the earth.

Its flowers appear at the center of the rosette, borne on very short stalks that keep them flush with the foliage. They feature a bell-shaped corolla divided into five lobes, with shades ranging from greenish-white to pale violet. Its purple flower is magnificent and opens in October. There are approximately 3 to 6 flowers per specimen.

The fruit is a fleshy berry resembling a small tomato or a yellow plum when ripe. It gives off a strong scent, often compared to an apple, and contains numerous seeds embedded in its pulp. Although appealing in appearance, these fruits contain toxic alkaloids identical to those in the rest of the plant. It generally fruits from December to February.

Its root is the most iconic organ of the mandrake, famous for its shape often compared to a human silhouette. It is a taproot, brown on the outside and white on the inside, which can plunge more than a meter deep. With age, it frequently divides into two or three limbs, reinforcing its legendary anthropomorphic appearance.

Mandrake seeds are yellow, rough, circular in shape, and measure 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter.

- Uses:

Considered a mythical plant, the mandrake fascinates with its millennial history. It is a very famous collector's plant that botany enthusiasts and history buffs know very well.

It possesses a unique form with its leaves and delicate, original flowering.

The peculiarity of its human-shaped root has earned it the most fantastic tales. This shamanic herb is very rich in alkaloids.

It is surrounded by many legends; sorcerers associated it with ancient uses, attributing therapeutic and medicinal virtues to it.

WARNING: All parts are extremely toxic. Keep out of reach of children and animals. Ornamental or botanical use only. Do not consume.

- Germination, Sowing of Seeds:

• The best time to sow mandrake is in early October.
• Begin by stratifying the seeds in the refrigerator for a few weeks before sowing.
• Bury them under 5 millimeters of horticultural potting soil.
• Water lightly with a hand sprayer.
• Let the soil dry for a few days to prevent the germ from rotting and damping off.
• Germination generally begins after 4 to 8 weeks on average.
• It is a capricious species; the seeds remain viable for a long time in the substrate but wait for the right moment to germinate around October.
• A sowing in March may very well germinate only in October during the germination season.
• Do not discard your culture; patience is required and yields very good results.

- Soil Type:

Mandrake requires very deep, loose, and perfectly drained soil to allow its long root to sink without obstacles. A mixture of garden soil, sand, and light potting soil avoids any risk of root rot.

- Light:

Full sun or light partial shade exposure is ideal to ensure proper foliage development. A well-cleared location allows the leaf rosette to spread widely on the ground without competition.

- Temperatures:

This Mediterranean plant appreciates heat around 20°C but proves hardy against short episodes of moderate frost (-7°C). It enters full dormancy during intense summer heat, disappearing completely underground to protect itself.

- Watering:

Watering should be regular during the active growth period, while allowing the surface of the substrate to dry. During the summer dormancy phase, it is imperative to stop watering to avoid suffocating the root.

- Propagation:

Reproduction is almost exclusively by seed. Division of the roots is also possible.