Voodoo lily (not a true lily but an arum, family Araceae), and many other aroids also, are pollinated by flies. They are attracted to the rotting meat smell of the plant. Unless you are into the extremely unusual and wierd and don't mind very unpleasant aromas, this is NOT a plant for a patio container planting. As it is not hardy for you, move the container somewhere well downwind of any outdoor entertaining areas, in an area that receives considerable shade. Keep evenly moist but do not overwater. The foliage will appear after the flower spathe declines and is quite exotic looking and attractive. You will need to store the container or dig up the tuber for winter protection.

Thanks GardenGal48 - does the foliage smell? If not I might keep it and compost it in the fall. And no, I'm not weird, despite what my family might say....

Thanks, Nancy.

Here's my stinker, fascinating plant I really enjoy these. It only smells real bad the day it blooms after that it is very faint. I do not dig them up in the fall, Utah winters get pretty ugly (it's going to snow tommorrow)Right now they are about 10 inches tall and doing great, can't wait for the end of June and bask in the aroma!!

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How lucky you are I have had these in the past and moved and lost my bulbs. Other names and varieties would be Jack in the Pulpit, Snake Plant, Voodoo Plant, Stink Plant. The bloom is said to be one of the most beautiful of all flowers. You have been introduced to the smell :) They self propogate by having little bulb babies off of the mother bulb. In my experience with them the bulb must be fairly large before it will flower and it took me a few years to grow some of the babies to adults. The variety I had I would put out in a pot or in the ground in the spring and they would look like I had palm trees growing through out the summer, small of course but up to 2-2 1/2 ft. high. The stalk was almost snake like in its coloring, rather unusual. I would dig them up in the fall and bring them in my heated garage. From there they would die back then grow a new stalk and bloom. This is a gardeners delight enjoy your treasure.