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Dwarf Voodoo Lily

Typhonium

Family: Araceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Typhonium is a genus of over 70 deciduous, perennial, flowering bulb species in the arum family (Araceae) and is native to Mongolia, tropical Asia, and north east Australia. These relatively small plants can be found growing in woodland areas. The genus is clump-forming and tuberous with triangular, glossy, lobed, mid- to dark green leaves. The flower is composed of a spathe surrounding a spadix that grows directly from the tuber. These plants do best in a well-drained, moist soil that is rich in humus with a neutral to slightly acidic PH and located in a sheltered, partially shaded, site. The plant does not do well in the cold and, if grown outdoors, should be protected with a thick, dry mulch. The best alternative would be to grow the plant in a container and overwinter indoors. If growing in a pot, plant tubers 6 inches deep in late winter, under glass, in loam-based compost in bright filtered or indirect light. Water moderately but keep dry in winter. These plants can be slow growing with some species taking up to 5 years to mature. Additional Typhonium images at Juniper Level Botanical Gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 51 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb; Houseplant; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Spatulate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are triangular, glossy, lobed, mid- to dark green.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spadix
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower detail
Flowers are long, pointed, pungent, velvety, maroon spathes in summer. Some feel that the flower's fragrance is foul.
Bloom time
Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Mongolia south to Myanmar, west to India, northeast Australia
Distribution
Brazil, Cuba, Madagascar, and western Australia
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants
Landscape theme
Asian Garden
Design feature
Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous #flowering bulb #container plant #tuberous #poisonous if ingested #spathe #perennial bulbs #spadix
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans
Propagation
Division
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves
Poison symptoms
All parts of some species are poisonous if ingested. Contact may irritate skin, cause intestinal distress, or an allergic reaction.
Toxic principle
calcium oxalate
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.