An unusual spectacle is unfolding at the Cairns Botanic Gardens in Far North Queensland, where four rare titan arums – commonly known as corpse flowers – have bloomed within days of each other. The blooms are attracting thousands of visitors eager to witness the enormous plants and experience their notorious odour.
A Stench Like No Other
Titan arums are famed for their size, with the flowering structure, called an inflorescence, potentially exceeding 3 metres in height and containing numerous smaller flowers. But it’s the smell that truly sets them apart. The inflorescence blooms for only about 24 hours, once every few years, releasing a powerful scent described as resembling rotting flesh or, as one visitor put it, “bin juice.” This pungent aroma is a crucial adaptation, attracting the pollinators the plant relies upon.
Visitors have offered a range of descriptions for the smell, from “a bit rubbishy” to “like rotting tropical fruit.” Cairns Botanic Gardens curator Charles Clarke noted that a garden survey pinpointed the scent as “bin juice, dead animals such as wallaby and rat, with a slight background flavour of rotting fish.” One local resident described it simply as “a bit like dog poo.”
A Rare Event
The Cairns Botanic Gardens currently holds 15 titan arums. Two are currently in bloom, with two more expected to open in the coming days. According to Clarke, having four plants bloom in such a short period is “something of a record,” potentially surpassing even the Bonn botanic gardens in Germany, which has a long history of cultivating these plants.
More than 2,000 people have visited the gardens since the first flower fully opened on Monday. Despite the less-than-pleasant aroma, visitors like Julie Young, from Newcastle, have been drawn to the spectacle, returning for multiple viewings even during inclement weather. “We’re so grateful that we were here to witness the plant in all its glory,” she said.
A Perfect Climate for Corpse Flowers
The titan arum originates from West Sumatra in Indonesia, where it is listed as endangered due to deforestation. However, the plant appears to thrive in the tropical climate of Cairns. “If we couldn’t flower these things in Cairns… [there would] be something wrong with us because our climate is just about perfect for them,” Clarke explained. “We just plant them and watch them go.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a titan arum?
A titan arum is a rare plant, also known as a corpse flower, renowned for its enormous size and the pungent odour its flower emits to attract pollinators.
How often do titan arums bloom?
The inflorescence of a titan arum only appears once every few years, and typically lasts for about 24 hours.
Where can I see these plants?
Currently, four titan arums are blooming at the Cairns Botanic Gardens in Far North Queensland.
As the week progresses, visitors may have the opportunity to witness additional blooms, though Clarke notes their flowering is “very unpredictable.”
