Sauromatum venosum
Monarch of the East, Voodoo lily, Red calla
Also known as Sauromatum guttatum, Arum cornutum
- Height × spread
- 0.75m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This arises from a corm. It produces a dramatic array of huge leaves that are splayed round the stem like a spiral staircase. The largest leaves are at the bottom. They have a rigid appearance, a strong central rib and impressed veining. The flower, up to 45 cm in height, with a spadix, is red-brown, dappled, maroon spotted, and has a fragrance termed 'malodorous' but which only lasts a couple of days. Rounded fruits follow that are coloured black. This is hardy enough to grow out of doors in the summer in the warmer parts of the country. The tuber, when dormant, can be over wintered indoors. This needs a medium or fully shaded position in acid soil that is humus rich.
- Flower colour
- Brown, Mauve, Purple, Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Black
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.75m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous)
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten; skin & eye irritant
AutumnNow
Autumn - mid · Planting
Divide while dormant
Clumps of bulbs, corms or rhizomes can be divided when the plant is dormant. The divided bulbs or corms can immediately be replanted at a little distance from each other, or moved to other locations.
Spring
Spring · Outdoors
Apply acidic mulch
Where soil is only just acidic, apply mulch with a high acidic content such as leaf mould, or mulch for ericaceous plants. Alternatively the plant can benefit from a feed of iron supplement (iron chelate) such as sequestrol.
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring · Planting
Repot yearly
Repot yearly if grown in a pot. Move it to a slightly larger pot with drainage holes. Some of the old compost can be shaken away, but don't disturb the roots too much.
Be careful to ensure the roots are spread out in the new pot, and that the plant is sitting on compost and not an air pocket. Firm the soil gently, and make sure that the plant sits at the same level above the soil as it did previously.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Compost · Planting
Ericaceous compost
This plant requires acidic (ericaceous) soil. Where the soil is not acidic, or when planting in pots, use an ericaceous compost.