This genus consists of about 9 tuberous flowering plants in the arum family (Araceae) that are native to tropical Africa, tropical Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. The genus name is from the Greek sauros, which means lizard, as in dinosaur. These are generally easy plants to grow that prefer partial shade in average, well-drained soils. The flower stem grows directly from the bulb and consists of a spathe surrounding an inner spadix. The preferred pollinators are flies, and the flower heats up to volatilize a fetid odor to attract them. Flowers last from a few hours to 1 day. After flowering, a single large, deeply lobed leaf will appear, providing continued interest. Some are hardy to zone 6, but others need to be overwintered indoors. They can easily be grown in a container. The bulb will produce an offshoot that can be removed if desired. Removing offshoots will help the bulb to grow to flowering size, which can take 1 or more years. The most popular one to find on the market is S. venosum or voodoo lily. Additional Sauromatum images at Juniper Level Botanical Garden Sauromatum Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Bulbs can rot if grown in poorly drained soil
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.