The Cultivation of Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) :: a Flagship Species for Botanic Gardens

One of the most exciting plant species is the Titan Arum, Amorphophallus titanum, which can truly be regarded as a flagship species for botanic gardens. Wild populations suffer from an increasing pressure on their natural habitat, but botanic gardens can play an important role in the ex-situ conservation of the species. The cultivation of A. titanum is not easy but it offers an irresistible challenge for any keen horticulturist. The University of Bonn Botanic Gardens (Germany) has more than seventy years of experience in the cultivation of this giant and the purpose of this paper is to help the botanic garden community to achieve success in the cultivation of this fascinating plant