>I received a request for information that has intrigued me. I am >not able to answer, but perhaps one of you has an idea. I didn't >think Amorphophallus would stand the winter in Ohio. Isn't it >semi-tropical? Dear Diane and all, I suggest you forward this link to the International Aroid Society page on Aroid Hardiness. As Steve M. has said the correct name for your correspondent's plant is Amorphophallus konjac. This should be fairly reliable in Cinncinnati http://www.aroid.org/horticulture/hardy.php Over the course of 15 years, this species could easily produce underground stolons over a fifteen feet apart (at a foot per year). And 75 plants is not that many. Where it is happy it can be very vigorous. Even one double doubled each year would be over 1,000 plants in just 10 years. Some Amorophallus can also produce bulbils on the leaf at the point where veins connect to the petiole. Not sure if A konjac does this. Anyway 75 plants in 15 years isn't really all that many. And your correspondent may be confused. Here's A. konjac http://aroid.org/genera/speciespage.php/… and here's the even hardier Dracunculus vulgaris http://aroid.org/genera/speciespage.php/… These can be confused by beginners*. Dracunculus is far more tolerant of a variety of cultivation methods and much hardier too. Seed is usually not produced if only 1 or 2 flowers are present because of delays in pollen availability and stigma receptiveness. Timing is crucial. If you have 4 or 5 blooms within a week of each other you are more likely to get pollination and seed production. I certainly encourage growing these very interesting aroids in Zone 5 or 6 just for their gorgeous foliage. Best Jim W. * Then there's Sauromatum venosum also subject to confusion in garden centers. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +