As of Wednesday, July 23
In partnership with Wheaton College, MHS is hosting a Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum), commonly known as the corpse flower, which is expected to bloom sometime between Wednesday, July 23 and Saturday, July 26. The bloom lasts just 24–32 hours and is known for its striking size and infamous odor.
The plant, affectionately named Eliza by Wheaton College’s Animal Facility and Greenhouse Manager Amanda Bettle, was cultivated over several years in the college’s greenhouse in Norton, MA. Eliza was transported to the Garden at Elm Bank earlier this week in anticipation of its first full bloom.
Native to the rainforests of western Sumatra, the Titan Arum is one of the largest flowering structures in the plant kingdom. Its bloom is unpredictable and infrequent, requiring years of energy storage in a massive underground corm. When ready, it produces a towering inflorescence—reaching up to 10 feet tall—surrounded by a dramatic, ruffled spathe. During bloom, it releases a powerful odor that mimics decaying flesh to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, its natural pollinators.
