Longwood Gardens is Hosting Very Rare ‘Corpse Flower’ that Blooms Once Every 10 Years, for Only 48 Hours

Author Hollywood Kyle

July 9th, 2020 9:41 AM

Longwood Gardens has raised a stink! The Amorphophallus Titanum (titan arum) more commonly known as the Corpse Flower. 

The Corpse Flower is about to bloom in Longwood Gardens’ Conservatory’s Tropical Terrace. The exact pinpoint of bloom is unknown as of right now, but they are expecting the plant to bloom very soon. This type of flower does not bloom often, especially in the United States, as a matter of fact it only blooms once every ten years. Not to mention, the bloom only lasts for 48 hours. Which is why they have a Live Stream in case it decides to open any minute now.

The Corpse Flower gets it’s name from the stinky smell of rotting flesh it emits once bloomed. Guests visiting the flower during bloom time are advised to put Vick’s Ointment under their noses to help block the stench.

Longwood Gardens want to make sure you have a chance to experience the rare bloom of this stinky star of the plant world. Starting Wednesday, July 8 and through its bloom—which typically lasts for only 24 to 48 hours and is best experienced at night—they will be offering extended hours:

Wednesday, July 8: 10:00 am–midnight
Thursday, July 9: 6:00 am–midnight

Longwood Gardens Corpse Flower Live Stream

Corpse Flower Facts

This flower is one of the world’s largest and rarest flowering structures. The corpse flower is a pungent plant that blooms rarely and only for a short time. While it is in bloom, the flower emits a strong odor similar to rotting meat or, aptly, a decaying corpse.

There is a good reason for the plant’s strong odor – pollination. Dung beetles, flesh flies and other carnivorous insects are the primary pollinators of this type of flower. These insects typically eat dead flesh. The smell and the dark burgundy color of the corpse flower are meant to imitate a dead animal to attract these insects.

Corpse Flowers are great pollinators and help out the ecosystem abundantly.

Past Corpse Flower Viewings Around the World (GALLERY)

• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Hanalei Donaldson,6, holds her nose after smelling the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Rare Blooming “Corpse Flower” Draws Curious Crowds To New York Botanical Gardens

  Share

  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: Visitors view the 'corpse flower' (amorphophallus titanum) at the New York Botanical Garden, June 28, 2018 in The Bronx borough of New York City. The rare and odorous flower began blooming Tuesday evening and is now in full bloom. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

• CORPSE FLOWER MAKES A RARE, AND SMELLY, APPEARANCE

  Share

  370932 03: Bianca Bradford, left, Eddie Gage, and seven-year-old Breanne Chism react June 14, 2000 to the smell of a rare blooming corpse flower, or titan arum, which is known for it''s powerful smell, like rotting flesh at the Fullerton Arboretum in Fullerton, CA. The corpse-like smell of the blooming plant from central Sumatra draws flies and other insects for pollination. It is one of about a dozen corpse flowers known to have bloomed in the United States in the past century. (Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)
• CORPSE FLOWER MAKES A RARE, AND SMELLY, APPEARANCE

  Share

  370932 06: Flavor chemists from a Japanese flavors and fragrances company, T. Hasegoaw USA, Inc., take samples June 14, 2000 of the aroma of a rare blooming corpse flower, or titan arum, at the Fullerton Aboretum in Fullerton, CA. The corpse-like smell of the blooming plant from central Sumatra draws flies and other insects for pollination. It is one of about a dozen corpse flowers known to have bloomed in the United States in the past century. (Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)

• Rare Blooming “Corpse Flower” Draws Curious Crowds To New York Botanical Gardens

  Share

  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: A boy holds his nose while visiting the 'corpse flower' (amorphophallus titanum) at the New York Botanical Garden, June 28, 2018 in The Bronx borough of New York City. The rare and odorous flower began blooming Tuesday evening and is now in full bloom. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

• Rare Blooming “Corpse Flower” Draws Curious Crowds To New York Botanical Gardens

  Share

  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: People visit the 'corpse flower' (amorphophallus titanum) at the New York Botanical Garden, June 28, 2018 in The Bronx borough of New York City. The rare and odorous flower began blooming Tuesday evening and is now in full bloom. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
• “Corpse Flower” Blooms In D.C. Spreading Its Stink And Drawing In Tourists To Botanical Gardens

  Share

  WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 03: A visitor discusses about the Titan Arum, also known as the corpse flower, in full bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden August 3, 2016 in Washington, DC. The plant is a native of Sumatra, Indonesia, and has the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. It emits a stinky smell during its full bloom and last for 24-48 hours before it collapses. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

• Kew Gardens Titan Arum, AKA The Big Stink, In Rare Full Bloom

  Share

  LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Kew Garden's Titan Arum, also know as The Big Stink due to its repulsive odour is in rare full bloom at Kew Gardens on April 22, 2016 in London, England. The flower can weigh up to 70kg and is housed in the Prince of Wales Conservatory. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

• Rare Blooming “Corpse Flower” Draws Curious Crowds To New York Botanical Gardens

  Share

  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: Visitors take a photo of themselves with the 'corpse flower' (amorphophallus titanum) at the New York Botanical Garden, June 28, 2018 in The Bronx borough of New York City. The rare and odorous flower began blooming Tuesday evening and is now in full bloom. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
• Kew Gardens Titan Arum, AKA The Big Stink, In Rare Full Bloom

  Share

  LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Kew Garden's Titan Arum, also know as The Big Stink due to its repulsive odour is in rare full bloom at Kew Gardens on April 22, 2016 in London, England. The flower can weigh up to 70kg and is housed in the Prince of Wales Conservatory. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

• Rare Blooming “Corpse Flower” Draws Curious Crowds To New York Botanical Gardens

  Share

  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: Visitors take a photo of themselves with the 'corpse flower' (amorphophallus titanum) at the New York Botanical Garden, June 28, 2018 in The Bronx borough of New York City. The rare and odorous flower began blooming Tuesday evening and is now in full bloom. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

• Rare Blooming “Corpse Flower” Draws Curious Crowds To New York Botanical Gardens

  Share

  NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 28: People visit the 'corpse flower' (amorphophallus titanum) at the New York Botanical Garden, June 28, 2018 in The Bronx borough of New York City. The rare and odorous flower began blooming Tuesday evening and is now in full bloom. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
• CORPSE FLOWER MAKES A RARE, AND SMELLY, APPEARANCE

  Share

  370932 02: Visitors to the Fullerton Arboretum in Fullerton, CA, take closeup pictures June 14, 2000 of a rare blooming corpse flower, or titan arum, which is known for it''s powerful smell, like rotting flesh. The corpse-like smell of the blooming plant from central Sumatra draws flies and other insects for pollination. It is one of about a dozen corpse flowers known to have bloomed in the United States in the past century. (Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)

• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Christina Moreno and Jonah Moreno check out the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Norman Abrams checks out the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Sarah Averett checks out the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: The corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum is seen as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Norman Abrams checks out the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: Christina Moreno checks out the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Rare, Stinky “Corpse Flower” Blooms Draws Crowds To Tropical Bamboo Nursery And Gardens In Loxahatchee, Florida

  Share

  LOXAHATCHEE, FLORIDA - JUNE 11: People look on at the corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum as it blooms at the Tropical Bamboo Nursery and Gardens on June 11, 2019 in Loxahatchee, Florida. The corpse flower puts off a putrid stench when it blooms and opens up approximately once every 3-7 years. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Sign me up for the WJBR email newsletter!

You love WJBR, so join the Insiders Club! Be the first to know about local events, concerts and contests, and get the latest updates with your favorite artists, and more delivered right to your inbox.

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.

Author Hollywood Kyle

Category:

• As Heard On Air
• Human Interest

Tags:

Delaware,longwood garden