Corpse flower blooms at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens for first time in 15 years

A rare and revolting spectacle has drawn tens of thousands to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, where a foul-smelling flower known as “Putricia” has finally bloomed.

A rare and revolting spectacle has drawn tens of thousands to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, where a foul-smelling flower has finally bloomed.

The corpse flower, affectionately known as “Putricia”, began unfurling its petals on Thursday, releasing an odour some have likened to rotting flesh, wet socks or hot cat food.

Thousands of fans lined up outside the gardens’ glasshouse for more than two-and-a-half hours to catch a one-minute whiff of the famous flower, which stands 1.62m tall.

Luke Clarke, 52, is one of 30,000 people expected to visit the flower while it’s in bloom.

“It was bigger than I thought, the way it was starting to open up,” he said.

People line up to catch a glimpse of the corpse flower as it begins to bloom in Sydney for the first time in 15 years. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“It was quite special. It’s something I normally wouldn’t do, but I’m glad I did now.”

Stefan Munoz, 32, likened the flower’s smell to that of wet socks.

Visitors pose with the flower on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“I mean, it’s not a common event. It doesn’t happen very frequently, so I thought I’d take the chance to see whilst she’s blooming.”

Chief scientist Brett Summerell said it was the first time in 15 years a corpse flower had bloomed at the gardens.

“There’s not many plants like it,” he said.

“It’s just amazing that so many people are interested.

The corpse flower on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“We are really overwhelmed by the response of the public and everyone over social media all over the world.”

The flower, from West Sumatra in Indonesia, lets off the smell to attract pollinators like flies and beetles. The stench generally lasts for 24 hours.

It’s believed there are only 300 corpse flowers left in the wild.

Putricia will remain on display until midnight on Friday.

There is also a live stream of the flower on YouTube, which has already attracted more than 1 million viewers.