A rare, foul-smelling flower is set to bloom soon at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. Known as the Amorphophallus titanum, or titan arum, this flower is more commonly identified by its odor than its appearance.
Often called the “corpse flower” due to its scent resembling that of decaying flesh, the bloom is expected between Friday and Sunday. Visitors can purchase tickets online to witness the spectacle at the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse within the botanical garden.
“This is an incredibly exciting and unique thing to experience,” said Steve LaWarre, senior vice president of horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens. “Many people go through their entire careers never seeing an example like this in person.”
On loan from Grand Valley State University’s Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse, the flower, named “The Beast” by GVSU staff, last bloomed in 2022. It currently stands at 58.8 inches, just under 5 feet tall.
Frederik Meijer Gardens also has its own corpse flower, nicknamed “Putricia,” which first bloomed in 2018.
After blooming, the corpse flower remains open for only 48 to 72 hours, according to the U.S. Botanic Garden. However, “The Beast” is expected to be open for just one or two days. The strong odor lasts for the first 12 to 24 hours as the flower attracts pollinators.
Native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, corpse flowers can live up to 40 years. They are the largest unbranched inflorescence flowers, reaching heights of up to 8 feet, and even 12 feet in their natural habitat. Their blooming cycle is unpredictable, depending on the energy the plant has stored, which can take from a few years to a decade.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the corpse flower as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild.