Does it really smell like rotting meat?

Yes, the scent is quite potent and specifically evolved to attract carrion beetles.

Can I grow it indoors?

You can, but you might want to move it outside when it begins to bloom.

Plant guide

Voodoo lily.

Sauromatum venosum

Pronounced saw-roh-MAY-tum ven-OH-sum

Also known as Voodoo Lily, monarch-of-the-East, red-calla, voodo-lily

Sauromatum venosum — Photo by Robert Wild (CC BY) via gbif

The Voodoo lily is a fascinating plant known for its dramatic, mottled spathe that resembles raw meat. It grows from a large, tuberous corm that can bloom even without soil or water. You will find it makes a striking conversation piece in any garden or home collection.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Tuberous perennial
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 10
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Plant the corm in well-draining soil and keep it moist during the active growing season. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is entering its natural dormancy period. Ensure the soil dries out significantly once the foliage begins to die back.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist while the plant is actively growing.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the spring and summer.
Pruning: Remove dead or yellowing foliage only after the plant has fully entered dormancy.
Repotting: Repot the corm in fresh soil during the spring before new growth appears.
Soil: Rich, well-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 5 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
The tuber has produced many offsets that crowd the pot.

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten and can cause skin irritation upon contact.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested due to calcium oxalate crystals.
Children: Keep this plant away from curious children because the tubers and foliage are highly irritating if handled or chewed.
Contact allergens: The sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause painful skin rashes.
Airborne allergens: The strong odor of the flower can be overwhelming but is not typically considered a respiratory allergen.
Edibility: The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals which cause severe irritation if ingested raw.

How to identify it

Large, deeply lobed palmate leaves
Mottled, snake-like patterned stems
Dark purple, fleshy flower spathe
Strong, carrion-like scent when blooming

Height: 0.3 to 0.9m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: maroon, purple, green, 20 to 50cm
Fruit: red, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Slugs and SnailsCommon
Soft RotCommon
Tuber RotCommon
AphidsUncommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Root RotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: In cold climates, dig up the tubers after the foliage dies back and store them in a cool, dry place until spring.
In containers: It grows well in containers, but use a large pot to accommodate the tuber and provide excellent drainage.

Division

1. Wait for the plant to go dormant.
2. Carefully dig up the tuber clump.
3. Separate the offsets from the main tuber.
4. Replant in well draining soil.

Plant them in a sheltered spot where the foliage can grow undisturbed after the bloom fades.

Grows well with

Hosta · They share similar shade and moisture requirements.
Ferns · They provide a nice textural contrast to the large leaves.

Similar species

Amorphophallus · It shares the same dramatic, foul smelling bloom habit.

Science

Family: Araceae
Genus: Sauromatum
Order: Alismatales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Himalayan region and parts of tropical Asia.
Conservation: This plant is not currently listed as endangered or threatened in its native range.

It grows in forest understories where it relies on specific beetles for pollination in the early spring.

Value to wildlife: attracts carrion beetles for pollination
Pollinators: beetles
Uses: ornamental specimen, curiosity plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it really smell like rotting meat?: Yes, the scent is quite potent and specifically evolved to attract carrion beetles.
Can I grow it indoors?: You can, but you might want to move it outside when it begins to bloom.

Where the name comes from

The name Sauromatum comes from the Greek word for lizard, referring to the spotted appearance of the spathe.

Good to know

The flower can heat itself up to help disperse its scent.
It is often grown as a novelty because it can bloom without soil or water.
The spathe has a unique spotted pattern resembling a snake skin.
It is a member of the Arum family.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.