Mandragora autumnalis is a perennial herb with thick tuberous roots native to Southern Europe. Mandrake roots contain the alkaloid hyoscymine that is used for motion sickness and as a preoperative anesthetic. In early times Mandrake had magical properties ascribed to it because the roots sometimes have humanlike form.
Blooming Time: Autumn Flowers are violet, to 1 inch across.
Culture: Mandragora autumnalis does best in full sun to part shade. In the greenhouse we grow them under 25% shade. The potting medium should consist of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts sand to 1 part loam. Keep the plants well watered and fertilize monthly during the growing season. If the plants become too dry they will exhibit summer dormancy.
Propagation: Mandragora autumnalis is propagated by division of the tubers in late autumn or by seed. Seed needs a period of cold moist stratification before sowing.
Mandragora autumnalis was featured as Plant of the Week May 26-June 1, 2000.
Guide to Past Plants-of-the-Week:
These pages are provided as a service by the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma by Cal Lemke.