In November 2024, the stench of Geelong’s first corpse flower attracted over 20,000 visitors. Pete, the second flower, is expected to bloom very soon

The clock is ticking, and things are about to get stinky. The infamous corpse flower, also known as Titan Arum, is about to bloom at Geelong Botanic Gardens. The blooms are a rare experience, lasting for only 24 to 48 hours, and emitting the unforgettable stench of rotting flesh. It takes seven to ten years for the plant to bloom for the first time, and subsequent blooms occur every three to ten years. This will be the second corpse flower to bloom at the gardens. The last time this happened, back in November 2024, the gardens attracted over 20,000 people! And if you missed out, you’ve got another chance, with Pete the second flower expected to bloom in the next few days. 

Last month, the team at Geelong Botanic Gardens noticed that Pete had emerged from dormancy, indicating that it’s about to bloom. It’s been growing about five centimetres a day, and is now 1.5 metres tall. A thermal imaging camera is also tracking the plant’s temperature, capturing the heat generated to attract pollinators and disperse its notorious scent. 

Found in the rainforests of Sumatra, these endangered plants (Amorphophallus titanum) can grow up to three metres tall, making them one of the world’s largest and rarest flowering plants. The spathe, a deep purple leaf-like part, unfurls around a towering central spike known as a spadix. This generates heat, warming up to around 37° Celcius when it flowers. The heat disperses the smell and imitates the temperature of rotting animals. Its pungent stench attracts pollinators, such as carrion beetles and flesh flies, that are drawn to decaying matter.

It takes years for the plant to build up enough energy to flower, making the bloom a rare and exciting event. After the bloom, the plant either goes dormant or dies.

Both of the corpse flowers were propagated by the team at South Australia’s Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, and donated to Geelong in 2021. The bloom also gives the horticulturalists a chance to collect and preserve pollen for future conservation efforts. 

You’ll find Pete inside the Conservatory, a restored glasshouse that was first built in the 1960s. When the last corpse flower bloomed, this building stayed open for 24 hours a day, ensuring that as many people as possible could witness this stinky spectacle. It attracted thousands of people, with visitors coming from as far as Sydney, Perth and Alice Springs. The live stream also received over 350,000 views.    

With a short bloom time of 24 to 48 hours, you’ll want to move fast. The Geelong Botanic Gardens website has an estimated countdown to help you plan your visit, and you can keep an eye on the council social media page for updates. If you can’t make it in real life, you can also tune in to the live stream.

There’s more to see across the gardens in our Geelong Botanic Gardens spring guide.