New York

Flower That Smells Like Rotting Flesh to Bloom at NY Botanical Garden

It'll be the first time that the flowering plant, known for its deep burgundy petals and corpse-like smell, will bloom on display since 1939

What to Know

  • It's the first time the plant will bloom on display since 1939
  • The plant is only at peak bloom for 24 to 36 hours
  • It can take up to a decade for the plant to get up the energy to begin the bloom cycle

Flora fans will get a rare chance to see -- and smell -- a rare occurrence this week at the New York Botanical Garden.

The NYBG announced that the its Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the corpse flower, is expected to bloom on Tuesday after more than 10 years of growth.

It was originally expected to start blooming on Saturday and then Monday, but it's now believed that it will open up and emit its ferocious smell at any moment Tuesday. 

It'll be the first time that the flowering plant, known for its deep burgundy petals and corpse-like smell, will bloom on display since 1939. 

The full effect of the flower's infamous scent won't last long, however. The NYBG said that the plant will only be at peak bloom for 24 to 36 hours.

It can take up to a decade for the plant to get up the energy to begin the bloom cycle, the NYBG said.

A pair of the enormous flowers bloomed at the gardens in 1937 and 1939, leading then-Bronx Borough President James Lyons to name the plant the borough's official flower. It was replaced by the daylily in 2000, though. 

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