Wednesday

Rare Harry Potters Mandrake Root Atropa Mandragora officinarum

Mandrakes are stemless, perennial herbs with dark green leaves, resembling somewhat the leaves of chard and a have large taproots that can grow up to two feet in length, resembling somewhat a human.
The pale to vibrant bluish purple flowers emerge in a cluster from the center of the plant. The fruit, orange to red berries, resembling tomatoes, ripen by late summer. The fruit is highly fragrant, one ripe fruit placed in the middle of the room will perfume the whole room with a pineapple like scent.
It requires good drainage for best growth and is not too picky about soil types.
This plant gets dormant in the summer times. Every autumn the root grows a new rosette of leaves. The leaves grow fast and in only a month they are fully developed. Zone 5-8.
It's one of the oldest and most famous plant in witchcraft, rituals and medicinal use. It's also mentioned in several references in the bible. According to the legend, a dog had to pull up the man-like roots as their scream reputedly killed all who heard it! Today the plant is best known from the movie "Harry Potter".
This plant belongs to the nightshades family (Solanaceae) and all parts are poison.



Rare Seeds found here: Mandragora officinarum Seeds


Other Names: Atropa mandragora, Mandrake, Devil's Apple, Dudaim, Love Apple, Harry Potter Root, Harry Potter Plant

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Rare Fothergills Calceolaria Sand Lady Slipper Flower from the Falkland Islands


The most sought after Calceolaria. Native to the Falkland Islands, Calceolaria fothergillii is a hardy little plant, forming a rosette of tiny, spoon-shaped, pale-green hairy leaves. From this rosette a single stem bears a lady’s slipper flower in yellow with red or violet spots and a white bar across the ‘toes’. Wonderful choice rarity for rock garden and containers.

For best results grow in moist but well-drained soil in a cool spot in partial shade. Never allow the soil to dry out and deadhead plants regularly. Likes a moist but well-drained acidic soil mix Perennial, zones 5-9. Counterfeit seeds are already on the market. Beware of "bargains" from China.
Note this is not
Calceolaria Uniflora, which is shorter.

 
Also called Slipperwort, Darwin' slipper flower, Chamber Maids, Darwin's Slipper. Syn: Fagelia fothergillii, Fagelia bellidifolia, Calceolaria bellidifolia, Calceolaria cavanillesii, Calceolaria neeana

Seeds are available here: Calceolaria fothergillii 

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