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Close up of blooming corpse flower interior
Amorphophallus titanum

Titan Arum/Corpse Flower

Commonly known as a titan arum, or “corpse flower,” it is a large, fast-growing plant in the Aroid family. The plant, native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is known for the intense, foul odor emitted from a tall spike of small flowers, often lasting just 24 hours. The smell and plant coloration mimic rotting flesh to attract pollinators such as flies. 

Although an increasing number of titan arums exist in cultivation, the plant is listed as Endangered in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species. The plant is native to the tropical forests on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The Garden grows titan arums as part of its commitment to plant conservation. A titan arum can take five to ten years to grow from seed until it is ready for its first bloom.

To date, the Garden has hosted 15 Amorphophallus titanum flowerings, the most recent in June of 2024.

 

"We are delighted to have one of the world’s most iconic plants, the titan arum, flowering at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It is an important symbol of the incredible diversity of the world’s plants, which we all need to work to conserve in cultivation and in their natural habitats. By growing this species in botanic gardens we can raise awareness of the loss of its tropical forest home in the island of Sumatra, a part of Indonesia."

–Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson
Missouri Botanical Garden President