Devil's Tongue Araceae Amorphophallus kiusianus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Amorphophallus hirtus var. kiusianus
- Amorphophallus konjac var. kiusianus
- Amorphophallus konjac var. kiuslanus Makino
- Amorphophallus sinensis Belval
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-mor-fo-FAL-us key-oo-see-AY-nus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The 'Voodoo Lily' is one of the hardiest perennials of the Amorphophallus species. It is native to China, Japan, and Taiwan, found growing in semi-shaded to sun exposed plantations, secondary forests, mixed bamboo and broad-leaved forest, and orchards. Amorphophallus comes from the Greek word amorphos and phallos, meaning “malformed penis” referring to the shape of the prominent spadix.
Growing 'Voodoo Lily' is fairly easy. Plant the tuber in moist, organic, well-drained soil, approximately 4” deep in late winter or very early spring. Its tuber must be well below the soil surface, to support the long leaf and flower. It requires minimal fertilizer, once a month or less, and will tolerate occasional overwatering, and occasional neglect. The health of the plant is determined by the increase in the size of the tuber. If planted in a container, the container needs to be at least twice the diameter of the tuber, and very deep to support the tuber and root growth. If the container is not deep enough, the tuber will become deformed and lie in the excess water, causing rot. The tuber may be lifted during dormancy and stored dry.
Being self-fertile, the 'Voodoo Lily' produces offsets on the tuber that may be replanted. Seeds may be stored in semi-moist peat moss and kept at approximately 45 degrees F. Before sowing, rinse the outer flesh away with water. Keep the temperature in the mid-70’s and soil moist. Be patient, as seedlings may take 6 months or more to germinate.
The 'Voodoo Lily' emerges in spring with a single dirty olive-green and whitish speckled flower stalk, producing a green and white speckled vase-shaped, or calla-like flower, called a spathe, that surrounds a purple tipped spear-shaped spadix. Inside the spathe, are warts that function as insect traps for pollination. After resting for a year, a single 4’ tall green and white speckled stem with a 3-foot wide shredded umbrella-shaped leaf with multiple leaflets emerges. The leaf may die back when the temperature rises to the high 70 degrees F. After the plant matures, its resting period may decrease to as little as a month, before producing the leaf.
Though they have both male and female flowers, 'Voodoo Lilies' can not self-pollinate. It is only able to pollinate on a single day, announced by a scent sometimes described as “decaying flesh” or “roadkill” that attracts its pollinators. Once trapped inside, the insects pollinate the female flowers, and the next day are covered with pollen from the male flowers and released to go on their way to pollinate others. The pollinated flowers then develop densely clustered colorful fruit that ripens from bright pink to blue.
The species Amorphophallus titanum, is the world's largest unbranched inflorescence, with a height of up to 8'2" and a width of 4'9". In September 2015 a 4' tall flower opened at Chicago Botanical Gardens. Thousands of visitors lined up to see and smell it, and its bloom was broadcast via live webcam.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Nematodes and root mealy bugs can affect the plant. It is not appropriate for a houseplant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amorphophallus
- Species:
- kiusianus
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Japan, Taiwan
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The Amorphophallus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species. It is available to pollinators for only one when it blooms.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Pink
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Description:
- Interesting seed heads that change color from pinkish-red to blue-black.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Black
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 3-7", dark purple with white splotches spadix flower with black center in late spring to early summer. A single 6" tall vase shaped inflorescence, called a spathe, resembling a calla lily, is dirty olive green with small white speckles on the outside with a violet to reddish margin. The inside is a brownish pink, with larger white to light green speckles. A single purple-brown 8" spadix emerges from the center of the spathe, like a spear. Interesting and somewhat unpleasant fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- A single giant umbrella-type leaf that can be up to 3' wide is produced about a month after the plant flowers. The leaflets are narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 2-7" long and 1-2" wide, and have a pale violet undulate margin.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The petiole is a prominate and interesting part of this plant. It is glossy, dirty olive-green with oval or irregular whitish spots, and many tiny dark green dots.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Malodorous
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs