Striking member of the Aroid family from Eastern Asia. Easily grown in containers in temperate climates, or plant it in the ground. We used to recommend digging the corms before cold weather but we've had this overwinter outside for 8 - 10 years now. Corms should be stored dry over the winter. Give dappled sun through the growing season. This is a fast growing plant that prefers moist rich soil. The corm puts out one large leaf(to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide) with a thick green stalk mottled with purple. The leaf itself is divided into dozens of smaller oval or diamond shaped leaflets. After 2 or 3 years it will flower, producing one large spathe enclosed by a dark purple spadix up to 3 feet tall. It freely produces offsets from even small corms. Widely used in Japan and China - the corm is ground into flour to make noodles, candy, jelly, gelatin, and other foods. The root is high in fiber with virtually zero calories - it is used as a weight loss aid and sold as Lipozene in this country. We ship this year round but from September to March you'll receive a pot with several dormant tubers in it.