Posted 12:04 am Thursday, June 28, 2012
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This Voodoo Is A Good Thing
By Dee Bishop
Smith County Master Gardener
Weird but interesting describes Voodoo Lily. Huge leaves atop 3 to 4-foot spotted stems give a tropical appearance to the woodland garden.
We have a nice group of them in the IDEA Garden. Go to our woodland area, through the North gate and to northeast corner. You will see them there beneath the trees.
Smith County Master Gardener
Weird but interesting describes Voodoo Lily. Huge leaves atop 3 to 4-foot spotted stems give a tropical appearance to the woodland garden.
We have a nice group of them in the IDEA Garden. Go to our woodland area, through the North gate and to northeast corner. You will see them there beneath the trees.
Members of the Aroid family, specifically Amorphophallus, Voodoo Lily blooms in spring. The interesting, some would say weird, calla-like bloom, sits atop the soil. It blooms very briefly then about a month later the leaves appear upon tall spotted stalks. Don’t smell the flower though, it smells like Texas road kill after a few days in the sun! This plant attracts flies to pollinate it. Don’t let this deter you from planting them though.
We have never smelled the blooms and never have seen any more flies than normal. I think (not sure though) all this pollination stuff happens at night. After the bloom has disappeared for about a month, the leaf unfurls and is interesting to watch it each day until the huge leaf is fully grown.
Voodoo Lily needs good humusy soil in a damp wooded or shady area. Plant the bulbs about four inches deep in early spring or in fall. They are hardy in our area. Fertilize monthly for maximum results. Enjoy the gigantic leaves all summer.
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about what’s growing in Tyler Rose Garden.
We have never smelled the blooms and never have seen any more flies than normal. I think (not sure though) all this pollination stuff happens at night. After the bloom has disappeared for about a month, the leaf unfurls and is interesting to watch it each day until the huge leaf is fully grown.
Voodoo Lily needs good humusy soil in a damp wooded or shady area. Plant the bulbs about four inches deep in early spring or in fall. They are hardy in our area. Fertilize monthly for maximum results. Enjoy the gigantic leaves all summer.
Dee Bishop is a Smith County Master Gardener. She writes about what’s growing in Tyler Rose Garden.
