Rare Corpse Flower expected to bloom soon at Cal Poly conservatory
Cal Poly has a flowering Titan Arum or Corpse Flower, Amorphophallus titanum. Cal Poly’s horticulture and botany students have been growing these plants for over 10 years. Photo by Joe Johnston/University Photographer/Cal Poly 8-8-21.
Exact timing of the bloom is unclear, but campus officials predict it will occur this week
– Cal Poly will host a rare corpse flower bloom this week at the campus Plant Conservatory, and the public is invited to attend. The corpse flower is known for its large size, strong odor and long intervals between blooms, making the event uncommon.
When the inflorescence of the titan arum, also known as Amorphophallus titanum, begins to open, there is typically a 24- to 48-hour period when the bloom fully expands and emits a strong odor similar to rotting flesh. The bloom generates heat of over 90 degrees and produces its carrion odor to attract flesh flies and carrion beetles for pollination. After this brief period, the bloom closes.
The exact timing of the bloom is unclear, but campus officials predict it will occur this week. When the bloom cycle begins, biologists at the Plant Conservatory will set visiting hours and notify the public.
This will be the first corpse flower bloom at the Cal Poly Plant Conservatory, which opened in 2023. Previous blooms took place at the university’s Environmental Horticulture Unit, including a 2020 bloom that drew thousands of visitors. Other blooms occurred in 2021 and 2022.
Visitors are welcome to explore other plant displays at the conservatory and may bring lunch to enjoy at shaded outdoor tables nearby.
The Plant Conservatory is in Building 72 on the Cal Poly campus near the entrance to the Poly Canyon hike. Visitors are encouraged to park in the H-16 lot and walk from the east end of the lot to the conservatory. For more information about parking, go to https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/parkingoncampus.
