Rare Corpse Flower Blooming at Denver Botanic Gardens, Hours Extended

Have you ever smelled a Corpse Flower in bloom?

A Corpse Flower blooming is a rare, and smelly, event and the Denver Botanic Gardens has extended their hours through midnight on Wednesday and Thursday, August 19 and 20, to accommodate the extra visitors.

The Titan Arum produces the world's largest and possibly stinky-est flower and for the first time in the Rocky Mountain region one is blooming at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The plant is a native of Sumatra and usually takes between 8 and 20 years of growth before it's first bloom and the next bloom could take another 7 to 10 years.

The Denver Botanic Gardens are extending their hours on Wednesday, August 19, until midnight and will be open on Thursday, August 20, from 6 a.m. until midnight. They will return to their regular hours on Friday, August 21, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Corpse Flower gets it's name from the disgusting smell emitted when it blooms, which is said to be similar to rotting flesh. The smell attracts the flower's main pollinators, the carrion beetle. Blooms normally only last one or two days.

The plant is in the Orangery greenhouse at the Denver Botanic Gardens, near the Marnie's Pavilion door. Glass has been removed to eliminate glare and release the odor. Viewing of the corpse flower is included in your Botanic Garden's admission. Volunteers, staff and signs will guide visitors to the Titan Arum plant. Stanchions are set up in the Orangery with volunteers and security keeping the line moving. Limited-edition T-shirts will be sold at the Shop at the Gardens and photos are permitted. The Denver Botanic Gardens ask that you please use #StinkyDBG when posting your pictures on social media.

Do you think it's worth the trip to get a smell of this rare Corpse Flower bloom?