Amorphophallus konjac

Also Known As

Amorphophallus rivieri
Amorphophallus rivieri 'Konjac'
Amorphophallus rivieri v. konjac
Hydrosme rivieri
Devil’s Tongue
Snake Palm
Umbrella Arum
Voodoo Lily

Plant type

perennial, bulb / corm / tuber, aroid

size

H: 3'-6'
W: 1'-7'

planting zones

6a-12

More Options

Amorphophallus konjac plant details

Amorphophallus konjac is a broadleaf deciduous perennial aroid bulb / corm / tuber with green foliage. In spring black and purple flowers emerge. Grows well with bright shade - shade and regular water. Prefers to be dry when dormant. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Amorphophallus konjac

Plant type: perennial aroid bulb / corm / tuber
Plant family: araceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 1 FT - 7 FT - wide, 3 FT - 6 FT - tall
Flowers: black and purple blooms in spring
Uses: container plant, mottled stems, showy

GROWING CONDITIONS for Amorphophallus konjac

USDA Zones: 6a - 12
Sun exposure: bright shade - shade
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Amorphophallus konjac is a weird and wonderful plant from the Arum family grown from Indonesia to Japan for its edible tuber. Ornamentally, it is grown for the incredible 4-5” tall deep red, jack-in-the-pulpit-type inflorescence in spring, followed by the attractive and intriguing spotted stem and single large umbrella-like dissected leaf for the whole of summer. Sounds great, right? Here’s the clincher: you just have to make it through the few days in spring when the flower smells like rotting meat! It’s certainly FRAGRANT!

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

(KONJAC VOODOO LILY) If you enjoy weird or ‘goth’ plants, this one is for you! 4-5’ spotted stems emerge late spring and are topped by a single, very large, divided leaf. Plants start blooming at 3-4 years and produce a giant purple spathe to 6’ that smells like carrion! Do not put this below you bedroom window. Plants grow from tubers that get larger each year. Rich, well drained soil and regular water in sun to part shade. Goes dormant after bloom. USDA Zone 8 3" pot

By: Secret Garden Growers

A huge aroid, leaf stems as big as your arm with intricate snakelike markings topped with tropical looking foliage, huge purplish flowers with the wonderful aroma of rotting meat, hardy here only with extreme protection, its best to dig the bulbs. We offer two bulb sizes. A. rivieri 'Kojac'

By: Arrowhead Alpines

This fascinating aroid features a single divided leaf atop a 5 foot stalk that is mottled with green and purple. Once old enough a huge purple flower emerges before the foliage and rises to a height of 6'. Flowers smell of rotting meat for about a day and attract flies for pollination. After flowering the tuber may rest for a bit before sending up a leaf. Plant 6? deep and if in a cold zone place tuber on its side so water doesn't collect on top of the bud. Or dig it up in fall and place bare and dry on a shelf for the winter. These are corms that are 2-3" in diameter and 3-5 years from blooming.

By: Botanophilia

Amorphophallus konjac is a Asian aroid. Commonly called the dragon arum or devils tongue. The foliage is one large segment leaf held a top a dark spotted petiole. The plant flowers after 2 to 3 years or once the tuber is large enough. The flower is a dark maroon color with a large dark spadix. Each flower is held up several feet by a petiole. The largest I have seen was 2 1/2 foot flower on top of a 5 foot petiole. One of the main topics with this plant is the smell of the flower which smells a bit like road kill. Usually lasting 2 to 3 days during flowering. Plants are hardy to zone 5, I recommend a well drained area for winter months. Tubers can get extremely large in time. Plants sold in 3 to 4 inch pots.

By: Brian's Botanicals

Voodoo Lily is a discussion provoking plant to showcase in a pot or in a protected zone 6 or 7 garden. Young plants will send forth one attractive dissected leaf on a purple speckled stalk (leaf petiole). The plant will really get you blushing at maturity, when it presents its fascinating 5-6' purple-brown spathe and spadix flower. Tubers are 2-3 years old, and most likely won't bloom for another year or two.

By: Avant Gardens

Tropical looking leathery pinnate leaves on beautifully spotted stems. Very fun in a container or partly shaded bed.

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

This arum from southeast Asia is widely cultivated for its edible tuber but we grow it for the huge tropical looking leaves and "snakeskin" stem. In spring, long before the leaves appear, a huge and astonishing flower dazzles with a 2', purple spadix standing above the purple-black spathe. (The "perfume", designed to attract flys for pollination, can be mitigated by simply rinsing the flower.) Plant stems and leaves develop after a well-deserved rest and can reach 6' tall in part sun to shade with regular summer water. Cold hardy to USDA zone 6.

By: Cistus Nursery

Garden photo gallery of Amorphophallus konjac

Photo of Amorphophallus konjac flower by Confessions of a Plant Geek

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By: Confessions of a Plant Geek

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