​Rare Corpse Flower Blooming Now At Longwood Gardens

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — The last time a corpse flower bloomed at Longwood was in 1961. The smelly tropical plant's bloom is happening now, and Longwood Gardens says it will only last for 24-48 hours. Hours are extended to allow visitors to experience the rare botanical event.

The Longwood Gardens Tropical Terrance is host to Amorphophallus titanum, commonly called the corpse flower because its smell resembles that of decaying flesh, according to Patricia Evans of Longwood Gardens. Often called the rock star of the plant world, titan arums in bloom are rare, both in the wild and in the world of horticulture. The flower's rich, burgundy inflorescence is the largest in the plant world. It also generates heat, which allows its stench to travel farther. In nature, this combination of heat and smell efficiently attracts pollinators, such as dung and carrion beetles. The plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia.

To make sure everyone interested can see the bloom, Longwood Gardens has extended hours Tuesday, July 14, staying open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to showcase the bloom into the evening.

Longwood Gardens is a popular horticulture conservatory in Chester County. In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,100 acres of gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ and 4.5-acre conservatory. It programming today includes exhibitions, musical performances, horticulture education programs, research, environmental stewardship and community engagement..

Open daily, Longwood Gardens is one of more than 30 gardens in the Philadelphia region known as America’s Garden Capital.