What's Blooming: Voodoo Lily

 

What’s Blooming:  Voodoo Lily
by Kelly Kellow, Horticulturist, Gardens on Spring Creek

 

One of the smelliest flowers in the world – Amorophophallus ‘Konjac’ or the Voodoo Lily – is starting to bloom right here at the Gardens on Spring Creek in the Butterfly House.  When in bloom, the flower is amazing to look at, but hard to stomach and be around it because of its revolting smell. 

But honestly, what is cooler than a plant that smells like death?  Amorphophallus ‘Konjac’ is one variety of the 80 - 90 in the amorphophallus family that is known for its flower that includes a spathe and spadix.  The flower resembles that of a calla lily where the spathe of the flower is simply a large, leaf-like bract that is brightly colored to attract pollinators.  The spathe surrounds and protects the spadix, that is a small spike covered in tightly packed flowers.  Together the spathe and spadix can grow anywhere from 10 to 50 inches long, depending on the age and size of the corm its growing from.

Amorphophallus ‘Konjac’ is not one of the largest, like its family member A. titanium, but is known for its dark purple flower.  It is native to very tropical areas in Asia and Africa where it used medicinally and as a food source.  The corm (a fleshy, underground stem) is dried and ground into a powder and added into dietary supplements for weight loss, or to make shirataki noodles.  The starch from the corm is used to make a popular Asian fruit jelly snack, yumm! 

Despite these uses, the plant is less likely to be eaten as much as grown for its unique flower and foliage.  In late winter, the corm comes out of dormancy and will first grow a flower stock that can get up to six feet tall.  This process takes about a month.  The spathe and spadex will fully open for a few days before it flowers.  The only way to tell it has officially flowered is when it emits the strong, offensive odor that smells like rotting meat. 

The reason behind this terrible smell is for the plant to attract its only pollinator, the Carrion fly.  Carrion flies are one of the first insects to arrive when an animal or human dies, where it lays eggs and starts the decomposition process.  Forensically, these flies help determine how long something has been deceased depending on the stages of the larvae.  The smell tricks the fly into thinking that it is visiting a cadaver and when it lands inside the flower, the fly pollinates the plant. 

The smell is strongest after one day of blooming and will linger for a couple more days in an area where there is no air circulation.  In the following weeks, the flower will fade back, and the corm will go into a second dormancy period.  A month after the flower has disappeared, the plant will then produce Jurassic-like leaves with multiple branches that resembles a small tree.  This part is not smelly and instead provides a jungle-like look.

The corm will go dormant for a second time from August to January and start the process all over again.  A. ‘Konjac’ can be grown at home in a container and is relatively easy to take care of.  When the plant is in either of its dormancy periods, the key is to not over water so as to not kill the corm.  The corm can be left in the soil with an occasional watering and it will come and go through its cycle naturally.  The flower can be bagged when in bloom to contain the smell. 

The Voodoo lily is a unique plant with its large smelly flowers and fun leaves.  Our Voodoo lily will stay in the Butterfly House until it blooms – come and smell it if you dare!