I was browsing the net while at work last Tuesday (what can I say, I was bored) when I came across amazing pictures of the Titan Arum. What's a Titan Arum? Well, it is the worlds largest flower. It is some 9 feet tall and probably at least 6ft wide.
The flower takes approximately 3 years to bloom and when it does it has a rotting flesh odor. The flower only grows in Sumatra and it only lasts for a couple of days so the odds of ever seeing one in the wild are remote. Of course you can see it at various botanical gardens around the country. Fortunately, you can grow its cousin the Dragon Arum (Dracunculus vulgaris) AKA Voodoo Lily.
While only a fraction of the size, it is quite exotic and has some of the features of the Titan Arum. This plant is easy to take care of and would definitely make a nice addition to your landscape. The great thing about it is that it can be grown all the way down to Zone 5 and is easy to care for. Luckily, the plant can be found at many online nurseries. One of my favorites is DirectGardening.com (Dragon Arum:Item # 7967) because they have a nice selection and everything is cheap! If you do order from them use special coupon # G5666 for a nice free gift. Be sure to use the link above for the free gift.
Growing Tips:
-Good soil drainage
-Do not over water
-Like it's cousin, it also has a fleshy odor to it so don't plant next to your door
-Grow in full sun to part shade
Plant features:
-Perennial
-Dark purple to black flower (very tropical and exotic look)
-Flower blooms in late sprint early summer. May not bloom 1st year but worth the wait to second year.
-Average plant height is about 5ft