A blooming Titan Arum plant is pictured at the US Botanic Garden in Washington DC on  August 2, 2016.  
The USBG's Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanium), also known as the corpse flower or stinky plant for its smell often compared to rotting meat, is native to Sumatra Indonesia and is expected to bloom for 24 to 48 hours before collapsing.   / AFP / ZACH GIBSON        (Photo credit should read ZACH GIBSON/AFP via Getty Images)

585214094

A blooming Titan Arum plant is pictured at the US Botanic Garden in Washington DC on August 2, 2016. The USBG's Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanium), also known as the corpse flower or stinky plant for its smell often compared to rotting meat, is native to Sumatra Indonesia and is expected to bloom for 24 to 48 hours before collapsing. / AFP / ZACH GIBSON (Photo credit should read ZACH GIBSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Photo by: AFP

AFP

The World’s Smelliest Flower Blooms Once a Decade

In previous years, corpse flower blooms have drawn large crowds and three-hour wait times. What makes this stinky flora so special?

January 31, 2022

The corpse flower smells like… well, a dead body. Given its rotting odor, the plant, whose technical name is Amorphophallus titanum has also been dubbed the corpse bride, corpse plant, and the world’s smelliest flower.

The plant’s smell has also been likened to “Limburger cheese, garlic, rotting fish, and smelly feet.”

The titan arum is a flowering plant, native to Indonesia’s island of Sumatra. The plant's full bloom only once every seven to ten years. This rare event only lasts 24 to 36 hours. Generally, the flower will open mid-afternoon and stay open all through the night and into the next morning.

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: After a nearly three-hour wait, patrons of the Denver Botanic Gardens finally get a chance to view and photograph the Corpse Flower, Amorphophallus titanium, August 19, 2015. The pungent flower blooms after 8 to 20 years of vegetative growth and lasts for up to 48-hours. Thousands waited in line for hours to get a glimpse, smell and have their picture taken close to it. Folks can view the flower until midnight Wednesday and 6 a.m. until  midnight Thursday and regular hours on Friday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

484513324

After a nearly three-hour wait, patrons of the Denver Botanic Gardens finally get a chance to view and photograph the Corpse Flower, Amorphophallus titanum, on August 19, 2015. Thousands waited in line for hours to get a glimpse, smell, and have their picture taken close to it.

Photo by: Andy Cross

Andy Cross

After a nearly three-hour wait, patrons of the Denver Botanic Gardens finally get a chance to view and photograph the Corpse Flower, Amorphophallus titanum, on August 19, 2015. Thousands waited in line for hours to get a glimpse, smell, and have their picture taken close to it.

The corpse flower is classified as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals left in the wild. Flower enthusiasts travel from all over the world to witness this infrequent occurance. Visitors will return day after day to conservatories, greenhouses, and botanical gardens with a predicted corpse flower bloom so as not to miss the short window.

The titan arum’s inflorescence can reach more than 10 feet in height. And just the leaf structure alone can reach up to 20 feet tall and 16 feet across. The plants underground stem, or corm, can weigh up to 110 pounds.

But blooming does not mark the end of the corpse flower’s lifecycle. If pollinated, the titan arum will produce fruit for about the next nine months. Once the fruit has ripened, the plant will die and emerge again as a leaf after a yearlong period of dormancy, then begin its lifecycle again.

Amorphophallus titanum is the largest flowering plant with unbranched inflorescence in the world. It is also referred as corpse flower due to its humiliating smell. Titanum also often called titan arum.

521107424

Amorphophallus titanum is the largest flowering plant with unbranched inflorescence in the world.

Photo by: Fadil Aziz

Fadil Aziz

Amorphophallus titanum is the largest flowering plant with unbranched inflorescence in the world.

Why does it smell?

The corpse flower’s scent is a chemical combination of dimethyl trisulfide, isovaleric acid, dimethyl disulfide, benzyl alcohol, indole, and trimethylamine. The odor is meant to mimic decomposition in order to attract its native pollinators– carrion beetles and flesh flies– who are drawn to the smell of decaying meat.

The potency of the stench gradually increases from late evening until the middle of the night– when pollinators are most active. The smell tapers off in the morning.

Where can I see a corpse flower bloom?

Titan arum are native to Indonesia, but there are botanists around the world who cultivate the plants. Corpse flowers are in cultivation in Europe, North & South America, Australia, and Asia. Check out your local botanical gardens to see if a corpse flower near you is blooming in 2022!

Next Up

Protecting Pink Dolphins and Piranhas Deep in the Amazon Jungle

Deep in the Amazon jungle, almost a two hour boat ride from the nearest town, lies a complex wetland system where pink dolphins, black caiman, exotic birds, piranhas, and endangered fish live.

It's a Girl! Very Rare Sumatran Rhino Born at Sanctuary

In a triumph for the conservation world, a rare Sumatran rhino calf has been born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia.

Tuna Conservation is Working

Two bluefin, a yellowfin, and an albacore tuna species are no longer critically endangered — surprising scientists.

The World is Waking Up to the Importance of Mangroves

Mangroves are threatened by sea level rise, lack of sediment, and human activity. So why should we care?

Forest Projects Will Help Rebalance Earth’s Climate

Forests might be the best tool humanity has to tackle climate change. Trees give cooling shade, absorb and store carbon dioxide (CO2), recycle water, and provide habitat for other plants and animals. Huge international projects like the Trillion Trees initiative believe planting forests will ultimately help to rebalance Earth’s climate.

The Mission to Rehabilitate Orphaned Manatees

Florida manatees are dying in record numbers from starvation. Critical care rescue and rehabilitation centers are running out of room. Georgia Aquarium has joined the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) to provide additional expert care and facilities for manatees in need.

Digging Sea Otters Stimulate Sexual Reproduction in Seagrass

Hungry sea otters improve the genetic diversity of eelgrass when digging for clams among aquatic vegetation, found scientists.

Biden Summit Commits Nations to Less Pollution and a Brighter Future

President Biden catapulted the US back into its international climate change commitments on Earth Day 2021 with a wide-ranging summit on industrial emissions, clean technologies, job creation, and innovation. Ambitious action on greenhouse gases was announced, with promises to reduce emissions by 50-52% by 2030.

Whale and Krill Populations are the Secret to Healthier Oceans

Oceans rely on their largest species, especially whales, to recycle and regenerate ecosystems. Studies at Stanford University identify the whale as an animal that recharges its own food sources and recycles carbon. Now researchers think they have found a way to seed plankton and krill numbers that will boost whale populations and restore fading sea life.

Environmental Initiatives Offer Hope for Critically Endangered Spider Monkeys

How one organization’s community-centric approach to conservation created a new generation of environmental activists.