Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Dragon Arum bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called dragon arum, dragon lily, stink lily, voodoo lily (Dracunculus vulgaris).

More about dragon arum

About Dragon Arum

Dracunculus vulgaris · also called dragon arum, dragon lily · flowering

Dracunculus vulgaris is a dramatic Mediterranean tuberous perennial famous for its huge deep-maroon spathe and long black spadix that reek of carrion for a day or two to lure pollinating flies. Its dragon-like mottled stems and divided leaves rise in spring; it loves sun, sharp drainage and a dry summer dormancy.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Powerful carrion smell: For a day or two at bloom the flower stinks of rotting meat and draws flies. Site it away from doors, windows and patios.

The reasons dragon arum isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming dragon arum traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding dragon arum a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get dragon arum to flower

Maximise sun. Give dragon arum the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for dragon arum and get the feeding right with the dragon arum fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Dragon Arum flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full dragon arum care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Dragon Arum blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my dragon arum flower?

Dragon Arum blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make dragon arum bloom?

Give dragon arum the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does dragon arum normally bloom?