3 Rare Corpse Flower Plants Bloom At U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory

WASHINGTON, DC — Three exotic corpse flower plants are preparing to bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory. The plants are now on view to the public, and officials believe the flowers will begin to open Aug. 17-23.

The corpse flower, also known as titan arum or the stinky plant, stand at about 2 to 3 feet tall. The plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia and can grow up to 12 feet tall in its natural habitat.

The corpse flower gets its name because of its putrid smell during peak bloom, which is often compared to the smell of rotting flesh, according to a press release from the Conservatory.

Since the corpse flower doesn't have an annual blooming cycle, public viewings of the exotic plant have occurred a limited number of times in the U.S. The U.S. Botanic Garden previously displayed blooming titan arums in 2003, 2005 and 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

The Conservatory set up a live stream so everyone can view the plants. The Conservatory will extend their hours and remain open from 7 p.m. Aug. 14-21. They will stay open until 10 p.m. on peak bloom days.

Photo: U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory