The smelly and fascinating titan arum plant is known as the corpse flower because once in bloom the flower smells like rotting meat or burnt sugar when it opens. The plant flowers every 2-3 years and the bloom only lasts 24-48 hours. The titan arum at NCG was named “Grimace” following a naming contest held in August, 2018.

My Roots

• I was gifted to Nicholas Conservatory by Huntington Botanical Gardens in California, in 2011 for NCG’s grand opening.

• I have bloomed three times in my lifetime:

  • August 2018; the inflorescence measured 80.375 inches tall

  • July 2021; the inflorescence measured 68.75 inches tall

  • July 2024; the inflorescence measured 71.5 inches tall

• My spadix (large conical structure at the top) is somewhat unique, because it is purple. Typically, they are white, yellowish, or green in color.

About Corpse Flower
(Amorphophallus titanum)

• Native to Sumatra.

• Largest unbranched inflorescence in the world; up to 10 feet tall!

• It takes 7-20 years for the first bloom. After the first bloom, it can take 2 to 10 years to bloom again.

• The bloom only lasts for 2 to 3 days.

• The bloom smells like rotting meat, and attracts flies, carrion beetles, and sweat bees for pollination in their natural environment.

• The plant can heat up to over 100º F while blooming to help disperse odors and attract pollinators.

• Female flowers are on the bottom of the spadix; male flowers are at the top and open later, so the plant cannot pollinate itself.