Rare Corpse Flower Expected to Bloom at The Huntington

Key Takeaways

• A Titan Arum, commonly known as a Corpse Flower, is expected to bloom at The Huntington in the coming weeks.
• The bloom, which lasts just 24–48 hours, is one of the rarest and shortest-lived spectacles in the plant world.
• Since 1999, The Huntington has exhibited 27 Corpse Flower blooms—more than any other institution in the western United States.
• The plant’s strong odor, large size, and unpredictable bloom cycle draw significant public attention each time it flowers.
• The Huntington is actively involved in the conservation of endangered plant species, including the Titan Arum. 

One of the world’s rarest—and smelliest—botanical wonders is about to bloom at The Huntington in San Marino, California. Known for its towering height and infamous odor, the Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is expected to unfurl in a spectacular display that lasts just 24 to 48 hours. Native to limestone hills in the rainforests of western Sumatra, Indonesia, the plant is endangered in the wild and blooms infrequently, making each flowering event a rare opportunity for the public to witness one of the plant kingdom’s most dramatic displays. 

Visitors will be able to view (and smell) the plant, nicknamed Green Boy, during regular public hours beginning July 16, 2025. A 24-hour livestream will also be available at huntington.org/corpse-flower. 

“A Corpse Flower bloom is one of nature’s most extraordinary events—and a rare opportunity to spark curiosity about plants and highlight The Huntington’s conservation mission,” said Nicole Cavender, the Telleen/Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens. “Every bloom connects visitors to the incredible diversity of the plant world and underscores our work here—through horticulture, research, education, and conservation efforts—to protect endangered species and their habitats.” 

About the Titan Arum 

• Conservation status: endangered (fewer than 1,000 remain in the wild)
• Structure: unbranched inflorescence made up of hundreds of tiny flowers
• Height at full bloom: up to 12 feet
• Growth rate: up to six inches per day at peak development
• Odor: comparable to rotting flesh, produced to attract pollinators
• Bloom cycle: every two to three years; lasts only 24–48 hours
• Learn more about the Titan Arum

Despite its common name, the Corpse Flower is not a single flower but a massive inflorescence—a flowering structure composed of many smaller blooms. During its brief flowering period, the plant releases a pungent odor resembling decaying flesh, which, in the wild, attracts pollinators such as carrion beetles and flies. After blooming, the plant quickly wilts and enters a dormant phase that can last for years. 

At The Huntington, Botanical staff use brushes to conduct the pollination themselves. When pollination is successful, the resultant fruit produces seeds that can be planted in containers on-site or shared with other institutions. The Huntington also supports conservation of this plant by sharing its pollen and corms (the bulbous tubers from which the plants sprout), gathering scientific data about individuals in the collection, and inspiring people to learn about the plants and take action to protect their remaining wild habitat. 

Corpse Flower Cultivation at The Huntington 

The current specimen, Green Boy, last bloomed in 2021. Its name is a playful nod to The Blue Boy, the iconic 18th-century portrait by Thomas Gainsborough—one of the most recognizable works in The Huntington’s art collection. The plant’s unusually green spadix—a central column bearing the flowers—inspired the nickname. 

The Huntington maintains one of the largest Titan Arum collections in North America, with 43 mature plants cultivated on-site. Most of these are descendants of a plant that bloomed in 2002. When a flowering is imminent, staff relocate the plant from its greenhouse to The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science for public viewing. 

The Huntington acquired its first Titan Arum in 1999 from Arizona botanist Mark Dimmitt, who received seeds from the Palmengarten in Frankfurt, Germany. That same year, The Huntington hosted California’s first Corpse Flower bloom, drawing nearly 76,000 visitors and marking only the 11th recorded bloom in the United States. 

Since the plant’s U.S. debut at the New York Botanical Garden in 1937, more than 146 blooms have been documented nationwide. The Huntington accounts for 27 of those—approximately 18.5% of all U.S. blooms. 

“Our first bloom in 1999 wasn’t just a milestone—it marked the beginning of a long-term commitment to understanding and preserving this remarkable species that was very rare in cultivation at that time,” said Sean C. Lahmeyer, associate director of botanical collections, conservation, and research at The Huntington. “The cultivation techniques we developed here are now used around the world, helping botanical institutions expand their collections and protect endangered plants.” 

Conservation and Research Initiatives 

The Huntington supports global plant conservation efforts through hosting an incredibly diverse collection of plants that serves as a living library; each plant has a unique number, like a call number, enabling botanical staff to keep track of it. The Huntington also collects botanical data, shares propagules and pollen, and collaborates with other botanical gardens and private collectors to reduce poaching pressure and preserve genetic diversity. 

Brandon Tam, The Huntington’s associate curator of orchids, has often compared the Corpse Flower to the giant panda—not because they look or smell alike but because both have become charismatic symbols of conservation. “One is adorable, the other is, frankly, disgusting,” he quips in presentations. “But both draw crowds, and that public interest is what fuels conservation momentum.” 

Still, Tam is quick to emphasize the scientific stakes behind the bloom: “In 26 years of growing Amorphophallus titanum, we’ve shared hundreds of specimens with other botanical gardens,” he said. “We help protect wild populations by increasing availability through propagation, which discourages illegal poaching and supports conservation efforts worldwide.” 

The Huntington’s work with Amorphophallus titanum, as with many of the rare and endangered plants in its collections, is highly collaborative and connects the institution with botanical gardens across the U.S. and around the world. Because this plant grows from a corm and experiences long dormant phases, it is well suited to distribution to other gardens. 

This fall, The Huntington will cohost a two-day conference on the aroid genus Amorphophallus in collaboration with Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the United States Botanic Garden, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Scheduled for November 2025, the event will bring together experts to discuss such topics as cultivation techniques, genetic tracking, pollen storage, and inter-institutional data sharing. 

Visiting and Viewing Information 

The public can track the progress of the Corpse Flower bloom in person or online. A livestream will be available at huntington.org/corpse-flower, and updates will be shared on The Huntington’s social media platforms. 

Media Access 

Journalists interested in covering the bloom or speaking with botanical experts may contact The Huntington’s Media Relations team at huntingtonnews@huntington.org. 

About The Huntington 

The Huntington, a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections. By cultivating dynamic scholarship, creating innovative programs for students and lifelong learners, and sharing its extraordinary resources, The Huntington invites all on a journey of discovery, insight, and connection. Only 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. Learn more at huntington.org.