Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Voodoo Lily Sauromatum venosum

Yes they really do smell like rotting meat! My voodoo lily bloomed for the first time last year, and I didn’t get a picture. It only lasted one day, I don’t know if this is normal or the if the fact that it was setting in direct sun, and it turned out to be a very hot day, factored into its quick demise. Before it bloomed I watched the unopened flower spike growing taller and taller each day. I came out the door on my way to work one morning and thought “what in the heck (not the actual word used) is that horrid smell!!!?” It had bloomed; it was disgusting, but beautiful.

This is how it currently looks. It’s growing fast and this time I plan to catch the bloom in all its stinky glory. Why do they smell so bad? They are pollinated by flies, so to attract the flies they mimic the odor of what flies love best, rotting meat. I’ve left it in a pot so I can move it around should the flower last and the odor be too strong for too long.

As usual I bought this plant for the foliage. I love the big sexy leaves and the black speckles on the stems. These photos are from 2007.

14 comments:

  1. Cool plant. There's a surprising contrast between the big leaves and the speckly stem. Obviously the smell was NOT what prompted you to get it. Nice set of pots, too (I'm in pot envy.)

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  2. Jane - remember when Megan recommended Garden Fever the other day for pots? She was right, that is where I get most of mine, the solid black one and the green speckled with flax in it came from there. The S/3 with the chartreuse border around the top came from Safeway of all places. I never shop there but happened in and saw them for $12.99 on clearance! The funny thing was I didn't realize that there were 3 until I got home, I thought it was just packing materials inside the big one.

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  3. I can see why you and Megan are birds of a feather, er, flower, no wait, foliage. Some really similar tastes here. Putting up with weird flowers to get something special in the way of foliage, that's pretty unique! :)

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  4. I saw and smelled a big voodoo lily in bloom last year during the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling visit to James David's garden. Phew! It was really stinky. But fascinating!

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  5. Karen & Pam...but it is an amazing flower! This one I think of the flower as a bonus actually. Because it is so weird. Plus it's long gone by the time the foliage appears so it knows it's place (ha!). Pam I hope you knew what you were getting yourself into when you went to smell it!

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  6. Hey Danger Garden,
    If you really like it set it free.
    I'm over in SE Pdx and the Voodoo lily is rampant in our yard. It likes shade! Will tolerate sun but really goes to town in shade. Spreads pretty quickly, blooms should last several days. Want more? I'm pulling them out before the yard smells like a buffalo died.

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  7. What is the name of that green and black fern besides the Voodoo Lily? Very interesting colours.

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  8. Patrick - yes please! I would love some! Although the picture you paint (dead buffalo) certainly is less than compelling! I can do a drive buy, but I'm busy with an out of town guest until early next week. Is that too late? My email is spikyplants@gmail.com if you want to continue this conversation. Thanks for the offer!

    Stephanie - good eye! Actually that is a mixture of 2 grasses planted in the same pot. Black mondo and a green version whose name I can't remember at the moment.

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  9. I had one of those in my cart at that recycled garden place that shut down last year (I can't remember the name right now, it donated profits to animal rescue). But I chickened out about the smell. I'm curious to see how long it lasts for you this year. If it's only a short time, I'll probably try it out.

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  10. Oh yeah, and that black & green mondo grass planted together is a nice inspired combination. I never would have thought of it, but I love it.

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  11. Megan - it was Recycled Gardens, I miss that place! It was always so much fun to see what they had and slop around in the mud. I got one kind of like this there last year, a slightly different variety. I planted it in the ground, no bloom this year but fabulous leaves already. They are smaller and more delicate but still cool.

    You should try mondo in a pot...since you've said you have trouble growing it. All that I've ever potted has done fabulous. And I'll give you some of the green version if you want it when we meet up some day. I've got a lot of it.

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  12. I will try it in a pot. It kills me there's a black plant I can't grow. And whoohoo--I would love some of the green version.

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  13. It just popped into my head! The green grass is called lilirope!

    Ok Megan...remind me, don't be polite, I'll forget. Go ahead and just say "give me some of the green grass you promised me!"...it does spread. Just so you know.

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  14. My first bloom was 18 inches high in may 2010, now its Feb 2011 and the bud is again starting to emerge. A foot tall now, and it looks like this years flower will be larger than last years. I would like to post a photo but don't know how.

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