‘Corpse flower’ collapses at Cairns Botanic Gardens after emitting ‘foul smell’

The Far North’s smelliest flower, with an odour akin to ‘bin juice’ and ‘rotting fish’ has officially collapsed. What will happen to it now?

One of Cairns Botanic Gardens' Amorphophallus Titanium, also known as a Titan Arum or Corpse Flower, is currently in bloom, with the large flower emitting a foul smell similar to rotting flesh. Visitors to the botanic gardens Isla Smith, Heather Smith, Kathleen Zarafonitis, Stuart Smith and Eric Smith were eager to experience the pungent odour of the rare plant for themselves. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Far North’s smelliest flower has wilted after blooming for around three days.

A Cairns Regional Council spokesperson confirmed the Amorphophallus titanium, colloquially known as the titan arum Corpse Flower due to its pungent smell, collapsed early on Wednesday morning.

The plant bloomed on Monday with botanists likening the smell to “bin juice and rotting fish”.

“Now it will go into a period of dormancy underground, in the form of a corm,” the spokesperson said.

“In a few months, it will send up a new leaf, which will last six to 12 months.”

The spokesperson said the leaf would then die down and go dormant again.

The Cairns Botanic Gardens has confirmed its Amorphophallus titanium, colloquially known as the Corpse Flower has officially 'deflated' after three days in bloom. Photo: Supplied.

“After this period of dormancy, it will either produce another new leaf (if it hasn’t stored enough energy to produce another flower), or a flower (if it has enough energy to flower),” he said.

“This cycle continues until the plant eventually dies.”

He said it was unknown how long a titan arum plant lived for, but it was possible they could live for decades.

The corpse flower will be moved to the nursery.

“It will be moved back to the nursery, where all the other titan arum plants are kept,” the spokesperson said.

“We only put them on public display when they flower.

One of Cairns Botanic Gardens' Amorphophallus Titanium, also known as a Titan Arum or Corpse Flower, is currently in bloom, with the large flower emitting a foul smell similar to rotting flesh. Visitors to the botanic gardens Isla Smith, Heather Smith, Kathleen Zarafonitis, Stuart Smith and Eric Smith were eager to experience the pungent odour of the rare plant for themselves. Picture: Brendan Radke

Earlier staff at Cairns Botanic Gardens said this particular flower produced very little odour.

A spokesperson likened the odour to “bin juice and rotting fish”.

“There has been remarkably little odour so far,” the spokesperson said.

“There was a faint whiff of eau de bin juice mixed with rotting fish this morning, but it came and went very quickly.”

The spokesperson said it was hard to tell how long the plant would remain open for.

“We can’t be sure, as this plant has not flowered for us before (they are all a little different),” the spokesperson said.

One of Cairns Botanic Gardens' Amorphophallus Titanium, also known as a Titan Arum or Corpse Flower, is currently in bloom, with the large flower emitting a foul smell similar to rotting flesh. The flower using the blooming scent to attracts bugs and insects for pollination, before wilting within 24 to 72 hours. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It may start to close up again this afternoon, or it may last into (Tuesday).”

Earlier, a Cairns Regional Council spokesman confirmed it was the first time this particular flower would bloom.

“This particular plant has never flowered before,” the spokesman said.

“This is very young specimen, it’s only about 4-5kg in weight, which very small compared to our most famous specimen, Hannibal, which weighs around 70kg.”

“The fact this specimen has sent up a 1.5-metre tall flower is quite surprising and very exciting.”

The corpse flower is best known for its ‘repulsive’ smell which is likened to rotting flesh.

“However, with this specimen it is hard to tell exactly what is going to happen, in terms of the intensity of the smell or how long it will flower, as it is so young and so small,” he said.

One of Cairns Botanic Gardens' Amorphophallus Titanium, also known as a Titan Arum or Corpse Flower, is currently in bloom, with the large flower emitting a foul smell similar to rotting flesh. Julie Montan and Raven Montan visited the gardens just to see the rare flower and catch a whiff of the odour emitting from the plant. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Everyone loves the impressive size of the flower and of course the unique way it goes about pollination, which is to mimic the smell of rotting flesh to insects like flies, rather than having a pleasant smelling flower.”

Native to the islands of Sumatra, the species thrived in wet and humid conditions, similar to the Tablelands this time of year where it was tropical and warm but not quite as hot as Cairns.

There are around eight corpse flowers in the Botanic gardens collection, however there is a larger collection of other Amorphophallus specimens.

The last time a titan arum bloomed in Cairns was in December 2023.

Originally published as ‘Corpse flower’ collapses at Cairns Botanic Gardens after emitting ‘foul smell’