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‘It makes you physically gag’: Rare, 24-hour ‘corpse flower’ likely to bloom in Mass. this weekend
The corpse flower grew for a decade in anticipation of the bloom this weekend.
A rare corpse flower is set to bloom this weekend in Massachusetts, but only for 24 hours.
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society expected the flower to bloom between Friday and Sunday based on the ruffling of its leaves, a sign of the upcoming bloom. As of Friday morning, the flower had not yet bloomed.
In a press release, MHS called the anticipated bloom “a rare and spectacular botanical event.”
When it blooms, the flower will produce its infamous odor similar to that of decaying flesh to attract its pollinators, flies and beetles, according to the horticultural society.
The flower was grown and cultivated at Wheaton College in Norton for a decade. In anticipation of its bloom lasting up to 32 hours, it was moved to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley on Wednesday, according to Mass. Horticultural.
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“It’s going to smell like dead bodies. Like really old rotten dead flesh. It makes you physically gag,” James Hearsum, president and executive director of the horticultural society, told WBZ.
“This flower is truly amazing,” said Wheaton College’s Animal Facility and Greenhouse Manager Amanda Bettle, who named the flower Eliza. “It has spectacular adaptations from its size, to the smell, and its brief blooming period. Wheaton College wanted to be able to share this with everyone.”
“Partnerships like this with Wheaton College allow us to highlight the unique sensory experiences that can be found in gardens — and this is one of the most shocking,” said Karen Daubmann, Director of Garden and Programs at MHS.
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The flower, scientifically known as the Titan Arum, is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Titan Arum plants store energy throughout their lifetime for the big bloom and can grow up to 10 feet tall, according to MHS.
The horticultural society is livestreaming Eliza’s progression on YouTube.
MHS may also offer extended operating hours to accommodate the typical corpse flower bloom time between 6 p.m. and midnight, according to the horticultural society.
Viewing of Eliza is included in the purchase of a general admission ticket.
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