Amorphophallus bulbifer

Here’s a connoisseur’s choice for anyone who needs to delve deeper into the jungle for their gardening kicks! Amorphophallus bulbifer is native to the Indian and Himalayan monsoon forests and is the perfect exotic to add to your tropical collection. You may have caught sight of Amorphophallus growing in tropical glasshouses at botanic gardens, particularly the huge varieties. Amorphophallus bulbifer is not so dominating, typically with an established height of 1-1.5m, and happens to be one of the hardiest — it can actually be grown outside in the UK!

Amorphophallus bulbifer (common names: Devil's Tongue, Voodoo Lily, Corpse Flower, Snake Palm) is a bit of a project plant. It doesn’t usually bloom in its first year but instead will shoot up a chunky mottled stem with lush foliage at the top. It may do the same in the second year, or if it’s ready to it might take its time to shine with an impressive pink spathe and peach-coloured spadix. This variety can tolerate a little bit of frost - if you grow it under trees in a nice, rich and free-draining soil, it could stay outside all winter providing it is covered with a thick mulch. If you’d prefer not to risk it, you could keep it in a pot for the first few years so it can be moved to a sheltered spot for winter. When you plant Amorphophallus, it’s worth considering how best to recreate its natural environment. Warm, sheltered and shady with a loose, rich soil. If planting in pots, you can grow them in multipurpose compost with some added bark and leaf much. Give it a try and impress your friends (and yourself) with this unusual gem!