Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
A Corpse Flower -- Bunga Bangkai -- is about to bloom in Sydney for the first time in fifteen years. Live stream. [View all]
Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2025, 12:52 AM - Edit history (1)
https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/whats-on/corpse-flower-sydney (CC Licensed) See below.Bunga Bangkai (Indonesian), Titan Arum or Amorphophallus titanum has the biggest, smelliest flower-spike in the world. It flowers for just 24 hours, once every few years… and one is about to bloom at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
What is it?
Found only in the rainforests of western Sumatra, the rare and endangered Corpse Flower plant is renowned for the smell of putrid, rotting flesh that surround the flowers when it blooms.
People have described the smell as like wet socks, hot cat food, or rotting possum flesh. But wouldn’t you like to find out for yourself?
What’s happening?
There are several Corpse Flower plants in different stages of growth in the Aroid glasshouse in the nursery. Despite this, blooms are very rare, occurring for just 24 hours every few years. This will be the fifth time a Corpse Flower has bloomed at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, with various plants in our collection previously flowering in 2010, 2008, 2004 and a double bloom in 2006.
A couple of weeks ago, horticulturalists working in the glasshouse noticed the initial clues that one might be entering the flowering stage. Daily measurements and close observation began, and due to vital information sharing from other botanic gardens across the world about Amorphophallus titanum blooming patterns, the team can now confirm that we are likely to have a stinky inflorescence as of Thursday 23 January!
Where and when can I see it?
You can watch it live online on the Botanic Gardens of Sydney YouTube channel right now.
To visit in person. The plant is on display from 8am until 6pm (weather permitting) everyday from Friday 17 January 2025 in the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney until it starts blooming.
The plant has been confirmed to bloom today (Thursday 23 January) and the display will be open from 8am until midnight.
What is it?
Found only in the rainforests of western Sumatra, the rare and endangered Corpse Flower plant is renowned for the smell of putrid, rotting flesh that surround the flowers when it blooms.
People have described the smell as like wet socks, hot cat food, or rotting possum flesh. But wouldn’t you like to find out for yourself?
What’s happening?
There are several Corpse Flower plants in different stages of growth in the Aroid glasshouse in the nursery. Despite this, blooms are very rare, occurring for just 24 hours every few years. This will be the fifth time a Corpse Flower has bloomed at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, with various plants in our collection previously flowering in 2010, 2008, 2004 and a double bloom in 2006.
A couple of weeks ago, horticulturalists working in the glasshouse noticed the initial clues that one might be entering the flowering stage. Daily measurements and close observation began, and due to vital information sharing from other botanic gardens across the world about Amorphophallus titanum blooming patterns, the team can now confirm that we are likely to have a stinky inflorescence as of Thursday 23 January!
Where and when can I see it?
You can watch it live online on the Botanic Gardens of Sydney YouTube channel right now.
To visit in person. The plant is on display from 8am until 6pm (weather permitting) everyday from Friday 17 January 2025 in the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney until it starts blooming.
The plant has been confirmed to bloom today (Thursday 23 January) and the display will be open from 8am until midnight.
Livestream: (Youtube)
Unless otherwise stated, all Department material available on this website is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Terms and conditions of the licence can be viewed at Creative Commons
Attribution
Please give attribution in this form:
© State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) [2025] unless indicated otherwise.
Attribution
Please give attribution in this form:
© State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) [2025] unless indicated otherwise.
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read