What Are Voodoo Lilies?

Description

• The huge flower emits a scent of decay or rot. The smell attracts pollinators such as carrion beetles. The bloom of the voodoo lily or corpse flower grows close to the ground and may reach a 4-foot diameter, with a light green base and reddish-maroon top portion. Once the flower blooms, dozens of tiny orange-colored berries may erupt from the base. The stalk of the voodoo lily grows up to 15 feet tall.

History

• The voodoo lily is native to Sumatra and prefers the semi-tropical rain forest environments of Southeast Asia. The plant is grown in botanical gardens around the world today; some plants bloom only once every several years. The flower was first discovered in Sumatra in the late 1800s. An Italian naturalist took seeds and sent them to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Great Britain.

Cultivating

• Under the proper growing conditions, the bulb of the voodoo lily can grow as much as 25 inches in two weeks' time. The plant is rare in the U.S., with less than a dozen bloom recordings. In some instances, researchers were required to hand pollinate the plant.

Growth

• Following blooming, the unpleasant odor of the flower fades, leaving behind an attractive and stunning floral display. The plant lives for years and some can take over a decade to finally produce a bloom under the right conditions. Most voodoo plants are grown in botanical gardens for display, though some are found growing wild in gardens in damp climates.