How to plant voodoo lily bulbs:
These strange and beautiful lilies are surprisingly easy to grow, but don't be surprised when the bulb looks just as weird as the plant itself! Voodoo lily bulbs are about seven inches across — remember that those huge bulbs contain the starts of leaves, its flower, and the tree that will eventually grow in the place of the big, funnel-shaped voodoo lily flower.
Voodoo lilies are planted in the spring, for summertime blooming. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Because the bulb is so large, it'll need to be planted pretty deeply: at least six to ten inches deep. Space your voodoo lilies about ten to twelve inches apart. Water these plants lightly but regularly.
After the plant blooms, let the flower die back so that the lily will achieve its natural tree form. When the plant is finished growing for the year, let the foliage die back as frost sets in. In most growing zones, you'll need to lift your voodoo lilies and store them for winter. Simply dig the bulbs up, brush off excess soil, and store them in a cool dry place, on a peat moss shelf or set into another soft medium.
How big do voodoo lily plants grow?
Gardening with voodoo lilies is a unique experience, in part because of the lilies' calla-shaped flowers that fade back before the plant sprouts tall, speckled stalks. Each bulb produces one stalk, topped by a spathe and spadix flower that looks like a calla lily — you can expect the spathe of the flower to be up to ten inches long. Once the flower has blossomed and dies back, the voodoo lily's "tree" will grow, reaching up to 48 inches tall!
Where to plant a voodoo lily:
Voodoo lily plants — also known as konjaku, konnyaku potato, devil's tongue, snake palm, or elephant yam — are the very definition of vertical interest: they grow almost straight up, and they're definitely interesting. Space your voodoos about one foot apart, but expect them to grow three to four feet high as their bloom phase ends and their tree phase begins! These plants require a sunny location, but are otherwise relatively low maintenance.
If you're asking yourself, "how do I incorporate a voodoo lily into my garden?" know that these plants are the stars of the show. They perform well in the back of a bed or as the center of attention in nearly any plant grouping. Try grouping shorter sun-loving bulbs and summertime bloomers in front of your voodoo lilies.
Voodoo lilies can even be grown in pots: you can bring these weird and wonderful plants indoors or keep them on the patio! Many gardeners opt for voodoo lilies in containers, as growing them in pots makes overwintering easier. If you are growing a voodoo lily indoors, we recommend moving the plant outdoors during its short blooming season, due to the flower's interesting fragrance.
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