Whenever this rare plant blooms, it causes a sensation. Maybe it’s because it is known for having one of the largest inflorescences in the world, but more likely it’s because of the putrid odor it releases during its brief 24- to 36-hour peak, like the smell of rotting flesh, the reason the plant is more popularly known as the corpse flower.
— There's a bloom watch on (including a live cam) at the New York Botanic Garden, where their titan arum is on display and expected to bloom at any time.
Thanks for the link. Titan arum live cams are fun, I enjoy watching the flower and the people.
If anyone wants their own stinky flower plant, the starfish cactus is easy to grow. I have one in my backyard. I can’t smell it unless I put my nose next to an open flower, then it does stink. A neighbor gave me the potted plant. I thought about getting rid of it when I realized it attracts flies during the few days a year when it blooms. But the flowers and plant are visually interesting, so it stays.
I had never even heard of a starfish cactus, what a cool looking plant!
A few years ago the corpse flower at the Univ of Minnesota bloomed. People lined up to see and smell it. It was both AWFUL to smell and FUN to watch others. Little kids seemed delighted in the pure horridness of the stench.
It’s kind of funny how many plants there are in the US now…they are such a huge draw, I guess, that every botanic collection in the US felt they had to have one.