Photo credit: MG Judy Weaver

I first learned of the Corpse Flower, Amorphophallus titanum, when I visited the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. It wasn’t in bloom, but I was more than curious about its name. Indeed, when this plant blooms, it produces an odor that leaves no doubt as to why it is called Corpse Flower.

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Why? The scent attracts pollinators! Native to Asia, Africa, and Australia, most likely you’ll only see a Corpse Flower at a botanical garden. But, you can grow a family member in your own garden - the Voodoo Lily, Amorphophallus bulbifer. The plant grows from a bulb - first comes the flower, then the leaves on a separate stem. In Mobile, it is cold hardy; it reappears from the soil in May. Upon blooming, there is a scent that soon dissipates.

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The leaves continue to grow in a treelike shape with a speckled stem. As the greenery grows to about 3+ feet, the bloom gradually fades away. The Voodoo Lily will be the topic of conversation in your garden.