Plant of the Month: Amorphophallus: Not Your Standard Garden-Variety Plant

Voodoo lily Davidson

by Theresa Davidson

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.

 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.

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.