Amorphophallus

Amorphophallus - Devil's Tongue

Amorphophallus is a genus of plants with a spadix, compare a Calla or Arum. Each plant gets only 1 spadix per season with numerous small flowers inside. Amorphophallus is pollinated by insects that crawl into the spadix. The insects are drawn to the usually foul-smelling odour that spreads the top of the spadix. After pollination, berries form. Many species of Amorphophallus go dormant after flowering, i.e. the leaves die above ground. Only the flask with berries remains. Amorphophallus likes a spot in the (semi) shade on a soil that is sufficiently moist. It is a plant for a forest environment. Good neighbouring plants are for example Hosta, Hakonechloa and ferns. It can take several years before an Amorphophallus plant is big enough to flower. Amorphophallus moderately hardy. If you want to try it outside, cover the plants in winter with a thick package of dead leaves or straw.