Oh, Amorphophallus Titanum. May we call you Corpse Flower, the name you're more commonly known by? Okay, great. It's just easier.
But, your keepers call you, "Son of Stinky Flower" because your seed came from the original "Stinky Flower" which attracted thousands of visitors just aching to get that undeniable scent.
You don't bloom that often and you certainly don't bloom everywhere. And when you do, the news turns out, often the national news. That's because, well, we're trying to be polite here. You stink. Woooowee, do you stink. A real reeker. Your name is kind of the first clue, but people get the second clue -- your memorable smell -- upon the first wafting.
You also are quite large for a flower -- no stopping at some size that would suit a demurer sweet pea or hyacinth for you. Nope. You grow and grow and grow until -- well, again, let's revisit your name. Your Latin moniker does have the word "phallus" in it, and that should say so much. So very, very much.
You'll be blooming at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, Calif., some time between June 10-15; the exact moment you do will be entirely up to you, but the Huntington's website is keeping a close eye. When you do finally commit, plan on many curious noses leaning in for a good whiff during the short period you are in bloom.
We humans know you'll be stenchy, even malodorous, but we can't help ourselves. We just have to know what a Corpse Flower smells like. The ickier the better, we say.
Smell ya later!
