Voodoo Lily

Not everything smells like roses in my garden.  There was a bit of commotion in the greenhouse recently because my Amorphophallus, or voodoo lily, sent up an extraordinary bloom.  This most curious plant is not only bizarre looking (quite phallic, in fact), but its aroma, or stink, if you will, is that of rotting flesh.  Fortunately, the variety that I own is rather mild smelling in comparison to its relative, Amorphophallus titanum.  This flower can reach a height of 6 feet or more and can be 3 to 4 feet across.  It has earned the nickname of “Corpse Flower” because of the exceptionally foul odor that it exudes. So why would Mother Nature be so cruel?  Well, for pollination purposes, of course!  The kind of insects that might be drawn to road kill, simply love the voodoo lily.  So, will I be acquiring a “Corpse Flower” anytime soon?  Not if I want to keep Jodi and Erika as my gardeners!

Here it is emerging from the soil

A few weeks later...

Full bloom and what a smell!

A closer look at this strange flower

Notice the color - it looks a bit like blood to fool the insects even more.

Comments

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
What a plant! I've seen one at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and "It stinks to high heaven!" The flower even looks like rotting flesh and the older it gets the worse it smells. I don't blame Jodi and Erika for protesting the possibility or it producing an off-spring.
Linda Gail:)

[Donna89]

Martha, that is one strange plant, odor or not.
Donna

[JBrennan]

Martha:

I think I'm addicted to your blog. I, like so many others, look forward everyday to the reliable information and diversion found in this format.

You are correct in saying that the lily specimen looks bizarre. I don't think I could get past the smell, however.

I'b be interest in seeing your pet's reactions to the plant. What do Sharkey, Francesca, Paw Paw, Vivaldi and the rest of the family think? Photos of them "enjoying" the scent would be quite entertaining, I'm sure!

Please consider posting some, if you've got the time. By the way, I think Laura is doing an excellent job maintaining the blog. Keep up the good work!

Joseph Brennan

[Cambria]

I love your blog. My Mom and I watch your show constantly. I love Jennifer Murphy when she is on. I am 12 and have a jewelry business. I have a site on Etsy and my own blog. I am a young artist and I think you are so inspiring!! Cambria

[Jennifer Fancher]

I read about this plant about 3 times a year as a tutor with a reader that features a story about this weird plant. Very strange! Luckily it doesn't stay open that long, at least the variety in the story. You are daring to grow it. Jennifer

[KellySchwark.com]

So often upon reading your recipes I wish I was able to add aroma to the photographs. Not so today. I am more than happy to enjoy the bloom from here! By the way, the last photograph is beautiful- almost abstract looking. I bet this was one flower Georigia O'Keefe inspire to do a close up of!
Thanks for the pictures!
Kelly

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the informative blog about the voodoo lily. A friend of mine who is a botanist has one of these wonders, and it does have such a smell! Your photos are excellent.
I enjoyed seeing Sharkey and Francesca on yesterday's show.
Hope Paw Paw continues to improve.
Kathy

[adamsme]

I saw an entire hillside of these plants,or a close relative, while in Crete one year in April. We used to have a similar plant in our backyard (which, thankfully, has since met its demise) which is why I recognized them when I saw them in Crete. Some were very smelly, while others had apparently already passed that stage. In their native habitat, they looked right at home on the rocky, scrabbly hillsides. The smell was somewaht diminished by being outdoors. Can't imagine the effect when confined to a small indoor space.

[Ingrid Moyle]

Hi Martha. What an extroadinarily ugly and yet beguiling flower! And I have to mention that I've just received my copy of your new cookie book - takes a little while to get to Melbourne from the US. I'm VERY excited by this latest cookbook - so inspirational. Naturally, I intend baking from cover to cover. The contents listing at the beginning is irresistable. Thank you so much again.

[Gwendolyn]

It's strange, but still beautiful in it's own way.

[Sues]

Wow, that's really interesting! I love your greenhouse...and your whole blog obvi!

[Lilly]

That's easily the coolest thing I've seen all year and it doesn't hurt that its one of the many family members of my namesake! I can't wait until I get the opportunity to have a garden... being a city girl my whole life, I wonder how I'll hold up in nature, even in small doses.

[Andrew Ritchie]

I challenge you to use it as a centerpiece, Martha. Ha! Maybe for Halloween, surrounded by venus fly traps and pitcher plants: a vignette of extraterrestrial plants that either eat flesh or smell like it. You'd win a medal for eccentricity.

-Andrew

[Barbara Aine]

Martha,
I too simply LOVE your blog and look forward every day to something new and wonderful. Today is no exception for sure. I have seen this lily at Kew Gardens in London and it is really stinky!! Amazing what nature can do!!

I do have one question. How do you get your myrtle topiaries to grow so large? I have some but, they grow so slowly and I don't have a greenhouse. Can you tell us how old these are? Did you acquire them from the Wonder plant man, Allen Haskell?? I have visited his greenhouses and met him before he passed on...he was one extraordinary man.

[Molly]

I "experienced" this plant at this year's Philadelphia Flower Show. It was hysterical to watch people's reaction around it; many didn't realize the stench was coming from the plant and as a result, gave dirty, disgusted looks to the other people around them!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, As the "Whatever Girls" would say: OMG! Maybe you should build a separate greenhouse just for your "stinky" plants with an "Enter at your own risk" sign! I have never seen any of these flowers "in the flesh" but find them rather fascinating and maybe someday I'll actually smell one. I love the photos of your greenhouse. It is as beautiful as a professional nursery. Thanks so much for sharing. Jan

[Becca Anderson]

There is a voodoo lily at the Brooklyn botanic garden, and I remember not being able to figure out which plant in that greenhouse smelled so awful. I'm glad to finally know from where the stink was coming.

[Hardboiledegg]

do you think the voodoo plant is utilized as a training tool for cadaver dogs? the trained rescue dogs which sniff through rubble after earthquakes and the like? there must be some reason to run afoul with such a plant

[Trish]

It tickled me to open up your home page today and see 'come see my voodoo plant!' Like I could go anywhere else after seeing that invitation!

I must say it is interesting to look at; it sort of reminds me of an Olympic torch except with a deadly flame shooting out. Would the smell keep the deer away or just everyone else? Thanks for a glimpse from afar and I'm glad we don't have smell-o-computers yet! What do you think of that name? Trish

[Terri Phillips]

Hi Martha
My husband had gotten the bulb from somebody years ago and yes it turned out to be a beautiful plant,but what a smell! We kept it in our front porch and it was bad. I have pictures of it. It was very tall.
Thank you for sharing. Terri Phillips

[gafarmwoman]

I think it is amazing and beautiful. I just love out of the ordinary things, plants, animals, and people. It makes life wonderful. Thanks for the great photos. of the voodoo lily.

[Teapot Collector]

If you think this one is big you should see the one at Kew Gardens near London!

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Hi Martha, I love you dearly but could you tell me why you have this plant in your greenhouse if it smells so bad. Is it just an expermental plant. It is unusual but I don't think it is very pretty.

cheers,

Joan Fluor, mason, OH

[Kim]

Hi Martha,

Striking photography,peculiar-looking plant not withstanding:))

Now I know where to have dinner this Saturday evening.

Continued success,

Kim, Bergen County, NJ

[Sarah, NYC]

Hi Martha,

You had a segment on the show about toparies years ago! You had a man who was an expert-he specialized in the 'Edward Sissor Hands' style of garden toparies. How can I find him?