What's that smell? Corpse flower blooms in Golden Gate Park

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - A spectacular bloom is causing quite a stink at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. 

Suma the Titan, an Amorphophallus titanum (commonly known as “Corpse Flower” or “Titan Arum”) began to open over the weekend. Its peak bloom, which is accompanied with a foul smell in the evenings, will last for only 2-3 days. 

The Amorphophallus bloom is renowned for its incredible size and the strong odor it emits. The scent is a deception device that tricks pollinators into thinking the plant is rotting organic matter. A rare spectacle, the Corpse Flower plant goes through years of dormancy and leaf cycles. It blooms approximately every 7-10 years, after it has stored enough energy to bloom.

“For those who missed the Corpse Flower last year, now they can experience this rare botanical wonder,” said Matthew Stephens, Director of Conservatory of Flowers. “And if you visited last year, the smell never gets old.”

In order to accommodate visitors to this rare natural spectacle, the Conservatory of Flowers has extended its general admission hours during the peak days of the bloom.

For more information visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org.