The sacred lily of India (Amorphophallus konjac), also called a voodoo lily, devil's tongue or snake palm, is known for its single, large inflorescence that smells like a rotting corpse. The smell attracts flies and other carrion-seeking insects that will then pollinate the flower. Sacred lily of India grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 10. When in bloom, the plant can be up to 6 feet tall; it is half that size when not in bloom. The perennial plants grow from tubers and need partial sun and moist, well-draining soil to thrive.
Water the sacred lily of India frequently to keep the soil moist. Do not allow the soil to dry. This may mean daily watering with at least 1 inch of water in the summer. In the fall after the flower fades, allow the soil to dry and remain dry until the soil warms in the spring and all danger of frost has passed.
Fertilize every one to two weeks during the growing season with a general-purpose fertilizer. Mix one tablespoon of fertilizer in one gallon of water, and water the soil around the plant. Stop fertilizing in late summer when the leaf begins to fade.
Dig about 2 inches of organic matter such as compost, peat moss or aged manure into the soil each spring before the plant emerges from the soil.
Remove the flower from the top of the stalk when the flower fades. The large, purple-maroon flower usually appears in late winter and fades before the spring leaf emerges. Cut the stalk back to the ground when it dries and turns brown.
Dig up the tuber in the spring if more than one shoot emerges from the ground, or every two to three years. Divide the tuber by removing smaller tubers from the parent with a garden knife; they grow out from the sides of the main tuber.
Things You Will Need
- General-purpose fertilizer
- Organic matter
- Pruning shears
- Garden knife
- Sacred lily of India is not generally bothered by pests.
- Iowa State University Extension: Germinator
- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Plant of the Week
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Voodoo Lily
- Augsburg College: Amorphophallus Konjac
- University of Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program: Voodoo Lily, Amorphophallus Konjac
- International Aroid Society, Inc.: Amorphophallus Konjac
- Online Plant Guide: Amorphophallus Konjac /Devil's Tongue, Voodoo Lily