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Sauromatum venosum

voodoo lily

A tender, tuberous perennial to 45cm tall. In early summer it produces an inflorescence composed of a green spathe, heavily mottled with purple, and a foul-smelling maroon spadix. After flowering a single, large, deeply lobed leaf is produced on a purple-mottled stem

Other common names

monarch of the East
red calla

Synonyms

Sauromatum nubicum
Typhonium venosum
see moreArum cornutum
Sauromatum guttatum

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral, Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Araceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Himalaya to Java

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant the tubers 15cm deep in late winter. Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright, indirect light. In growth, water moderately; keep completely dry in winter. Outdoors, grow in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich, neutral to slightly acid soil in partial shade. Lift and store the tubers in dry, frost-free conditions over winter

Propagation

Propagate by removing offsets while dormant in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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