Sauromatum giganteum

Sauromatum giganteum, Giant Voodoo Lily, is a hardy Aroid from China and Tibet with dark green hastate foliage and a remarkable dark purple-black inflorescence with the usual pungent noxious aroma that instantly alerts you to its presence. The shape of the inflorescence is more similar to that of an Arum rather than the elaborate elongated spathe and spadix of the more commonly encountered Sauromatum venosum. Like that species, Sauromatum giganteum has wandered back and forth between Sauromatum and Typhonium with such tedium that most afficinados now regard the two taxonomical synonyms as interchangable and easier to deal with that way rather than constamtly changing the listing or actual plant labels. The choice is yours!

Sauromatum giganteum emerges much later than many Aroids - usually in late July or later still in early August - at a time when most of the summer Aroids have been up from months yet before the first of the autumn Arum species begin to emerge. The inflorescence generally appears shortly after the foliage and its dark maroon or purple/black spathe has a sinuous wavy margin and the stout spadix is a similar dark purple or darker still and near black. It is an impressive sight.

We have found this Aroid to do best with a well-drained gritty/sandy but fertile substrate and in semishade. With the increasing number of scorching heatwaves we have been getting here in the south of England the risk of burning the leaves is lessened when it is planted in the proximity of other protective and leafy plants. Further north, with less fierce temperatures, it will tolerate a more open aspect. A mulch of bark is sensible in all locations.