This stinky wonder will emit its noxious odor for just over a week Come and see (and smell) this rare and unusual bloom before it’s gone
Encinitas CA— Characterized by a scent Morticia Addams might use as an intoxicating perfume, the deathly-smelling Amorphophallus titanium, also known as Titan Arum, is expected to be in bloom THIS WEEKEND at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. The plant will be on public display in SDBG’s Bamboo Garden during regular business hours from 9 am – 5 pm daily. Admission prices are $14 for adults, $10 for students/seniors/military, $8 for children, and no admission charge for children under 2 years of age.
“If there is any plant that creates a stir when in flower, it certainly is the Titan Arum,” says SDBG President and CEO Julian Duval. “One cannot predict when it will bloom. Individual plants only bloom about every 5 to 10 years and from start to finish this amazing plant usually goes through the whole bloom cycle, producing its huge inflorescence in less than 30 days.
“It (Titus Arum bloom) changes almost hourly, so you need to see it in all its stages. Yes, it stinks. But it is also other-worldly beautiful.”
Due to its odor, which smells like a rotting corpse or carcass, the Titan Arum is characterized as a carrion flower. It is best known by its more common name as the ‘Corpse Flower.’ This plant grows in the rain forests of Sumatra. This is a climate that will be replicated at the Garden once our Dickinson Family Education Conservatory is erected in late Spring/early Summer 2018, where the Garden hopes to have the titan arum as part of our permanent display.
Once this plant is in full bloom, possibly this Saturday or Sunday, the Corpse Flower will be approximately 4 feet tall and emit its unique stench for only 2 days, so plan ahead because you don’t want to miss it.
Today, through the end of this week, the flower will continue to grow approximately 3 inches per day until attaining its peak bloom height and then finally open up to display its full glory.
This plant is currently on loan from California State University Fullerton. Edward Read, Manager of the Biology Greenhouse Complex at CSUF, brought this wonderful specimen down to the Garden – in his Vanagon! – for display at SDBG’s Gala in the Garden that occurred on Saturday, Sept. 9th.
This specimen was grown from seed planted in 2017. The seed was obtained as a collaboration between SDBG, CSUF, Fullerton Arboretum, and community member James Boohman. Mr. Boohman lent his Corpose Flower for display at the garden in 2006. It was pollinated by the staff from Fullerton and Mr. Boohman shared this seed with the pollen donors. This is the 12th plant to bloom from seed planted in 2007 by Mr. Read.
Come see – and smell! – this rare and unusual bloom TODAY at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas.