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Re: Titan Blooming

A blooming Amorphophallus titanum is indeed an experience you will be telling your grandchildren about. Anyone who has the opportunity should go see it in person.

On the other hand, I am often perturbed by the attention given to amorphophallus blooms. They are often stunning foliage plants. Amorphophallus titanum is a little too fussy for most gardeners, but A. konjac (formerly A, reverii) is a breeze. After blooming (which it will do without benefit of pot, water, or soil), it then grows a single leaf. But what a leaf! A spotted petiole grows from the tuber, up to four or five feet depending on the size of the tuber, and at the top spreads out into a single compound leaf. Very compound. With hundreds of leaflets. It looks very much like a small exotic tree and is a standout for a deck container.

I notice that J.L Hudson is selling half inch tubers this year for twelve bucks each. By that standard, I am growing tens of thousands of dollars worth of A. konjac. I put peach sized tubers out at my annual plant sale for four or five bucks and usually take them all back and plant them. I've given many away to friends, and sometimes enemies. In fact, All Things Considered did a segment on this habit of mine a couple of years ago. I'm sort of a Johnny Amorphophallustuber. I don't think Disney will ever make the movie.

If you have an opportunity to buy one, don't pass it up. And if you happen to drop by here, I'll probably give you one. I think that may be the reason that most people don't visit me twice.

D


----- Original Message ----- From: "Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>


One of the most interesting plants and the biggest flower on the plant is the amorphophallus 'Titan.' It was my fortune to see the biggest one in the US to date bloom in 2001 at the Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison. 
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