Origin
South America
Light
Dappled shade
Watering
Twice a week
Care
Expert
Flowering
Foliage
Indoor
Arum Titan
The largest inflorescence on earth: a purple spathe over two metres tall that opens for only a few hours, once every seven to ten years.
Care Profile
A guide to ensuring your botanical companion thrives.
Origin
Sumatra
Light
Bright indirect
Watering
Weekly
Maintenance
Expert
The sleeping giant of Sumatra
Endemic to the rainforests of western Sumatra, the Titan Arum builds an underground corm that can weigh more than fifty kilos — the single store of all its energy.
It alternates years of one solitary leaf several metres tall with long dormancies, until the bloom releases, for a few hours only, a carrion scent that draws pollinating beetles.
"The Titan Arum waits ten years to flower for a single night."
01
Styling Tip 01
Filtered light
Give it bright but filtered light, as under a forest canopy: direct sun scorches its single leaf within hours.
02
Styling Tip 02
Weekly watering
Water once a week while it is growing, then stop completely as soon as the leaf yellows and dormancy begins.
03
Styling Tip 03
Warmth and dormancy
Keep it at 25–30 °C with high humidity, and let the corm rest dry for several months before growth resumes.
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More botanical treasures to discover.
Origin
Southeast Asia
Light
Low to bright
Watering
Weekly
Care
Easy
Flowering
Foliage