In New York, visitors at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden recently gathered to witness a unique spectacle: the blooming of a rare plant known as Amorphophallus gigas. This remarkable plant, which has not bloomed since its arrival in 2018, is celebrated not only for its impressive height but also for its strong odor, which some liken to that of decaying flesh.
Elijah Blades, one of the visitors, shared his experience of confronting the plant’s notorious smell. “It smells like feet, cheese, and rotten meat,” he remarked, describing it as “the worst possible combination of smells.” Many others also braved the scent, pulling out their phones to capture this unusual sight.
Gardener Chris Sprindis explained that the bloom contains many flowers, both male and female, and can take several years between each blooming cycle. He noticed the flower’s development around New Year’s Eve, and he’s excited about this rare event. However, he cautioned that it would likely be years before another bloom occurs, as the life cycle of this plant is long.
Interestingly, the Amorphophallus gigas isn’t alone in capturing attention. Across the globe in Sydney, a similar scene unfolded at the Royal Botanic Garden with the blooming of an Amorphophallus titanum, or corpse flower. Thousands of people lined up for three hours, eager to experience the infamous smell that some compare to gym socks and trash.
This year’s bloom marks the first time a corpse flower has blossomed in Sydney in 15 years, thrilling plant enthusiasts who waited patiently to see it grow from a mere 10 inches to over 5 feet within a short time. Events like these highlight the fascination many have with nature’s curiosities, even when they come with an odor that many find off-putting.
