The extraordinary corpse flower has returned to the Geelong
Botanic Gardens.
Meet our second Titan Arum and discover one of the world's
rarest and most fascinating plants famous for its enormous flower spike and its
unforgettable scent. Even more remarkable is how rarely it blooms, and when it
does, the spectacle lasts for just 24 to 48 hours.
Witness botanical history, experience the bloom up close and
discover why visitors travel from far and wide to see this incredible plant in
flower.
See this remarkable giant up close or tune in to our 24-hour
livestream so you don't miss a moment, wherever you are.
View the livestream
About the Amorphophallus titanium - The Corpse Plant
A rare blooming event
The Corpse Plant, also known as Titan Arum, is famous for
its enormous bloom and its powerful scent. Native to the rainforests of
Sumatra, Indonesia, this unique plant can take 7–10 years to bloom for the
first time, and subsequent blooms are infrequent, occurring every 3–10 years.
The plant only blooms for 24 – 48 hours, after which it either goes dormant or
dies.
When in bloom, the Corpse Flower emits a pungent smell resembling rotting flesh. This scent attracts pollinators, like carrion beetles and flesh flies, that are drawn to decaying matter. The strong smell only lasts for 24–48 hours, adding to the plant’s mystique and rarity.
The bloom of a Corpse Flower can reach up to three metres in height, making it one of the largest flowering structures in the world. The deep purple “spathe” (leaf-like part) unfurls around a towering central spike, called the “spadix.” This structure generates heat, helping disperse the scent further and mimicking the temperature of decaying animals.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens were gifted two Amorphophallus
titanium corms from the Botanic Gardens of South Australia in 2021. Both our
corms were propagated from a leaf of the same plant in 2013. The first corm
bloomed at 10 years in 2024. The flowering plant in our gardens today is 13
years old. Through close monitoring, we observed bud emergence on 24 September
2026 indicating it is about to bloom.
Due to habitat loss and deforestation, the Corpse Flower is considered endangered in the wild. Botanic gardens worldwide carefully cultivate these plants, allowing the public to witness this extraordinary event and supporting conservation efforts.
Fun corpse flower facts
1. The stink is real
When it flowers, the Titan Arum releases a powerful smell like rotting flesh. It's not trying to clear the room, it's trying to attract pollinators!
2. It's a hothead!
During flowering, its central spike can warm up to around 37°C close to human body temperature. This helps waft its stinky scent into the air.
3. It's not one big flower
The giant bloom is actually a flowering structure called an inflorescence, containing hundreds of tiny flowers hidden near its base.
4. Biggest bloom energy
The Titan Arum produces the world's largest unbranched flowering structure. In exceptional cases, it can reach around 3 metres tall!
5. Is that a tree?
Between flowering events, the plant grows a huge leaf that branches into lots of leaflets. It can look like a small tree, but it's all one leaf!
6. Years in the making
A Titan Arum can take seven to ten years or longer to flower for the first time. All that waiting for a bloom that may last just 24–48 hours!
7. A very big battery
The plant stores energy in a giant underground structure called a corm. It uses those reserves to power its enormous leaf or spectacular flower.
9. Geelong went corpse crazy!
More than 20,000 people came to see our first corpse flower bloom in November 2024. That’s a whole lot of curious noses! The livestream also attracted more than 350,000 views from around Australia and the world.
8. A rare rainforest celebrity
In the wild, Titan Arum grows naturally in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. It's endangered, with habitat loss threatening its future.
10. Love is all about timing!
The Titan Arum has male and female flowers, but they don't open at the same time! Female flowers are ready first, with males following shortly. This clever timing encourages pollination between different plants.
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