Plant Profile: Mandrake - Mandragora officinarum

[@AnnaBokor-m7s]

Wow Stephen. I love the opportunity to learn more botanical knowledge and history. Thank you both.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Our pleasure! Regards Stephen

[@paulacothren3591]

I love humor in the garden. Thank you, gentlemen! (from North Carolina).

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Our pleasure! Regards Stephen

[@marilynplant4647]

A great video! So much interesting stuff about mandrake and poisoness plants in general. I’m looking forward to today’s contribution. I wonder what that little green clumping plant with peltate leaves around the mandrake is?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

The plant growing near the Mandrake is Umbilcus rupestris a self seeding annual that often grows in dry stone walls in Europe. Regards Stephen

[@marilynplant4647]

@@thehorti-culturalists thanks

[@JackieHamlin-xs5se]

What an interesting episode. I had no idea. Thank you! Wisconsin, USA.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Our pleasure. Regards Stephen

[@danevans740]

Amazing! Thankyou for another interesting and informative video!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Our pleasure! Regards Stephen

[@dewdan11dnd46]

💞✨Thank you both. There's always an interesting perspective to each video. 🌟💕

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@nerinat8371]

Fascinating plant, thanks guys

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@WendyWhitham]

Fascinating. thank you.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@susanshardlow1881]

Alnwick Gardens in Northumberland, England are wonderful and have good access for disabled people. The queues for the Poison garden are usually long, but worth visiting.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Poison is popular! Thanks for watching!

[@TheCoffeeBushKid]

Gorgeous Would love to get my hands on a couple of those. Please let me know if you get any going. (Viv at Buda)

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Doesn't look like seed will set this year dam it! Regards Stephen

[@joanne-et6pm]

Thanks for the great Video Stephen & Matt love ur comment Stephen on natural selection - I totally concur 😃 $56 tube stock for mandrake - that's a ripoff The history on this plant u spoke about is really quite interesting it's a stunning & Grand looking plant Your lucky to have one Thanks again Happy gardening 🌸🐝🦟

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@chucktaylor4958]

I did not realize mandrake was a nightshade. Beautiful.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@svetlanasgardenhomeofredwa4342]

What a fun episode. Thanks. Also I would love to learn more about hardier citrus!

[@chucktaylor4958]

Mandrake is not a citrus.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

That could be a bit outside of my expertise but if I find an expert who knows. Regards Stephen

[@svetlanasgardenhomeofredwa4342]

@chucktaylor4958 thanks :))) the guys were walking past citrus trees that looked absolutely lovely, that's why I asked

[@chucktaylor4958]

@@svetlanasgardenhomeofredwa4342 thanks.

[@sylviahardy4568]

Fascinating. Thank you, guys. On the subject of UK 🇬🇧 plant labelling, the strangest imo is to be found on little pots of growing herbs commonly available in larger supermarkets.... 'Do not ingest potting medium'

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Oh we are doomed as a species!! Regards Stephen

[@karlsorchidparty2395]

You know what... Gift means in german poision. So for a german speaking person a gift shop in a poisonous garden ist double fun! 😂🎉😊

[@Kramfors1]

Same in Sweden 🤭

[@karlsorchidparty2395]

@@Kramfors1 😝

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@brendamanning1472]

thank you! I collect poison plants and always enjoy a discussion on them :)

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Interesting hobby! Regards Stephen

[@Dedicated_to_Jesus_downunder]

I heard of a situation here in Australia where someone nearly killed someone picking wild mushrooms (just as well they were as fit as a mallee bull as the saying goes and just got sick!) Needless to say I'm not keen to eat any wild mushrooms anyone picks or grows in their yard but then again can you trust the stuff in the supermarket after the recent spinach scandal. Turns out it wasn't spinach and had some kind of hallucinogenic affect. I really think people should take the time to educate themselves about the toxicity of plants. I didn't realise how poisonous peace lilies are and I had several of them inside. Praise be to God a certain cheeky rainbow lorikeet "Sunset" who I love very much dudn't chomp one and I was quick and able to rehome the beautiful air purifying plants to someone else. Since then I have just happened to be in the right place at the right time to share what I learned with others who had aquired the plant and had pet birds (who have a tendency if given the opportunity to use those lovely secatare shaped beaks to do some pruning!) Thank you and God bless you for sharing this fascinating plant - I had read about it in the Bible and wondered what it looked like. For some reason I imagined it looked like some human shaped root vegetable similar to a carrot or parsnip but I guess you didn't pull it up and show us the root system 😂

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I certainly wouldn't dig it up to show our viewers no matter how much I love them only having three plants. But glad you enjoyed our mandrake special. Regards Stephen

[@HolidayGlow]

Oh my lawdy... you definitely need to grow a few more batches of those! Aren't they lovely! I could pop a pair under my brugmansia pair.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You sound like you are on the way to your own poison garden. Regards Stephen

[@HolidayGlow]

@@thehorti-culturalists there are a surprising amount of garden plants that have some degree of toxicity but since I'm past the toddler stage by juuuuuust a few years I think I'm pretty safe. lol

[@mdolley11]

I wonder if they would grow from root cuttings?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

That is my next experiment . Regards Stephen

[@dibblethwaite]

Fascinating. If they'll grow in the UK it would make a welcome change from snowdrops and crocuses in the Winter. What are the little yellow flowered things to its right?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It is another poisonous thing called Eranthis hymnals or winter Aconite. Regards Stephen

[@dibblethwaite]

@@thehorti-culturalists Thanks.

[@grandmothergoose]

I think the biggest risk with labelling plants as toxic is that there are some people who wouldn't otherwise know, that might, once they found out, try to make a beef wellington with them. 🤭

[@thehorti-culturalists]

A point I hadn't considered! Regards Stephen

[@jeanneclark99]

Oooooh, I want one!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

So should all lovers of plants! Regards Stephen

[@doonslove9693]

Hello Horticulturists! I have a question about what tips you have around how to create and keep the hardest (for me!) soil type - moist well draining! I have a bunch of rare plants that want that, and I have struggled to get the balance right! I am in Central west NSW! Thanks so much!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Try adding fine gravel if your soil is clay as this will help with drainage but funnily enough also hold moisture. It is then a matter of getting the amount right. Don't forget to make sure the humus (compost) is topped up regularly. Regards Stephen