A giant corpse flower expected to bloom within days is drawing attention to Geelong Botanic Gardens, where visitors can soon experience one of the world’s rarest and smelliest botanical spectacles.
Known as Pete, the Titan Arum has reached 1.5 metres tall after emerging from dormancy last month and is growing around five centimetres each day. When it finally flowers, its spectacular bloom will last just 24 to 48 hours, releasing a notorious smell resembling rotting flesh.
This will be the second corpse flower to bloom at the gardens. The previous flowering in November 2024 attracted more than 20,000 visitors and generated over 350,000 livestream views.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM said the gardens were inviting people to experience the unusual event.
“We invite everyone to be part of this remarkable moment for Geelong, especially if you missed our first corpse flower bloom in 2024.,” he said.
Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, the endangered Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum) can grow up to three metres tall. Its flowering process is particularly unusual, with a towering central spike generating heat of around 37 degrees Celsius to disperse its pungent scent.
The smell attracts pollinators including carrion beetles and flesh flies, which are drawn to decaying matter.
It can take seven to 10 years for a corpse flower to bloom for the first time, with subsequent flowering occurring every three to 10 years.
Geelong’s two plants were propagated by South Australia’s Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium before being donated in 2021. Pete’s flowering will also give horticulturalists an opportunity to collect pollen for future conservation work.
With the bloom expected soon, visitors can check the Geelong Botanic Gardens countdown, or watch the live stream.
