Yunnan voodoo lily (Amorphophallus yunnanensis)

VERY RARE

• Latin name: Amorphophallus yunnanensis
• Danish names: Yunnan voodoolilje
• English names: Yunnan voodoo lily

Amorphophallus yunnanensis is an exciting and rarely offered species from Southern China and Northern Indochina. The species is named after the Chinese province of Yunnan, but its natural distribution also extends through Guangxi and Guizhou as well as parts of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It grows in environments including forests, scrublands, and mountainous regions and has been found from relatively low altitudes all the way up to several thousand meters.

This wide range in altitude sets A. yunnanensis apart from many of the distinctly tropical species in the genus and makes it interesting for collectors who want an Amorphophallus from more varied natural growth conditions.

A smaller and elegant Amorphophallus

Amorphophallus yunnanensis does not belong to the giants of the genus. It develops a dark brown tuber, which in mature plants can reach about 13 cm in diameter. From the tuber grows the characteristic single leaf, which in Amorphophallus is actually a highly divided leaf and therefore can easily be mistaken for a collection of many smaller leaves.

The petiole is grayish to gray-green and characteristically decorated with light pink to pinkish-white spots. This gives the plant a finely marbled appearance and makes it decorative even when it is not blooming. Compared to, for example, Amorphophallus konjac, its growth is more compact, which makes A. yunnanensis interesting for pot cultivation.

Flowering

Once the tuber has become sufficiently large, it may develop an inflorescence instead of a leaf. The inflorescence can reach up to about 60 cm in height and has the characteristic structure with spathe and spadix known from the Araceae family.

A special detail of A. yunnanensis is its floral scent. While some of the best-known Amorphophallus species are famous – or infamous – for a very strong smell of carrion, the scent of A. yunnanensis has been described as more vegetable-like and carrot-like. The flowering is short-lived, but makes the plant an exciting species to follow through the years.

Unusual blue-violet fruits

If the flower is pollinated, it may subsequently develop a decorative infructescence. The fruits are particularly interesting in this species because they change color during ripening. They are first green, then turn blue, and end up with a deep violet color. This distinguishes A. yunnanensis from many other species in the genus, where ripe fruits are often orange or red.

Tuber, plant, and dormancy

Amorphophallus yunnanensis is a tuber-forming geophyte with a clear growth and dormant period. The product can therefore be supplied either as a dormant tuber or as a plant in active growth, depending on the season.

During the growing season, the plant uses its large leaf to build energy and increase the size of the tuber. When the growing season ends, the leaf yellows and dies back completely, after which only the underground tuber remains.

A plant in growth is supplied with a shoot or leaf and must be treated as an actively growing plant. A dormant tuber is supplied without a leaf and should be planted when it begins to show signs of new growth.

Cultivation and care

The species grows naturally in forest and scrub, and in cultivation it thrives well in a bright location with filtered light or partial shade. Strong midday sun should be avoided, especially if the plant is in a pot.

The tuber should be planted in an airy, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. During active growth, the soil should be kept evenly moist, but it should not be constantly wet. As with other Amorphophallus, soil that is too wet around the tuber can lead to rot.

The plant grows quickly once it has started, and it therefore benefits from regular fertilization throughout the growing season. A good supply of organic fertilizer helps the plant build a larger tuber and thus more vigorous growth in the following season.

Outdoor cultivation in Denmark

Amorphophallus yunnanensis is particularly interesting because it comes from areas with significantly cooler winters than many of the tropical species in the genus. In nature, it is found in mountainous areas in Southern China, among other places, and it is therefore considered one of the Amorphophallus species most worth attempting to grow outdoors in Denmark.

It can be grown outdoors throughout the growing season and thrives well in a sheltered location in partial shade, for example under trees and shrubs or in a protected spot in the garden. If you want to try to let the tuber overwinter in the ground, a well-drained location is very important. Winter moisture around the dormant tuber can be at least as problematic as the cold itself.

Plant the tuber relatively deep in a humus-rich but well-drained soil and choose a place where the ground does not stay wet in winter. A layer of leaves, straw, or other winter cover can provide extra protection during the coldest periods.

We do not consider A. yunnanensis as documented fully winter-hardy under all Danish conditions. Hardiness will depend on, among other things, the size of the tuber, soil type, winter moisture, planting depth, and the garden's microclimate. In a sheltered and well-drained location, however, it is a very exciting Amorphophallus to experiment with as a perennial outdoor plant.

If you want to be completely sure of preserving the plant, the tuber can naturally also be dug up when the leaf withers in the autumn and overwintered in a dry and frost-free place.

Overwintering

When the leaf begins to yellow, reduce watering gradually. When the leaf has completely withered, stop watering. The tuber can then be stored dry and frost-free throughout the dormant period, either in the dry soil or removed from the pot.

Even though the species naturally occurs in mountainous areas and at significantly higher altitudes than many tropical Amorphophallus species, the tuber should not be exposed to frost during cultivation in Denmark.

See more Amorphophallus

Amorphophallus yunnanensis is an exciting species for both beginners and collectors, especially because of its moderate size, the beautifully spotted petiole, and the unusual blue-violet fruits. See also our other selection of Amorphophallus plants and tubers, where you will find both more familiar species and rare collector plants.

Note

Choose the variant based on whether you want a dormant tuber or a plant in growth. Dormant tubers are sent without leaves and only begin to sprout when the plant naturally breaks its dormant period.

The photos are intended as examples of the species and do not necessarily represent the exact plant or tuber being purchased.