13-06-2025
Corpse flower to be in bloom at Smith College
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – It's called the corpse flower, and it's drawing in some attention at a local botanic garden.
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The foul-smelling flower on the campus of Smith College in Northampton is said to be a sight to behold. This flower is part of the aroid family but is popularly known as the corpse flower, originating from Sumatra, Indonesia. These flowers can reach a height of up to 15 feet.
'Big big guy, so this is the largest free-standing flower in the world, and what we're looking at is the flowering phase of the life cycle of this plant,' said Jimmy Grogan, Conservatory Curator at the Botanic Garden at Smith College.
As for the unique name, it comes from the 'rotting flesh' smell once the flower is set to bloom, and flies are its pollinators. Grogan told 22News that it isn't easy to take care of these flowers due to their irregular life cycle.
The flower will begin to smell like a corpse as early as next week.
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