by guest writer Lisa Reynolds, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, San Diego Botanic Garden, posted by Deb Shaw
Amorphophallus titanium (Corpse Flower) getting ready to bloom at the San Diego Botanic Garden. Photo Credit: Lisa Reynolds, © 2017.
If you have always wanted to see, smell, draw or paint an Amorphophallus titanium, and will be in the San Diego area the weekend of September 16 – 17, 2017, now is your chance! The San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) is expecting their Amorphophallus to bloom this coming weekend.
Here is the information sent to us by Lisa Reynolds:
Deathly-smelling Corpse Flower Blooming THIS WEEKEND at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas
This stinky wonder will emit its noxious odor for just over a week. Come and see (and smell) this rare and unusual bloom before it’s gone!! High-resolution images available at: http://www.sdbgarden.org/media.htm
Characterized by a scent Morticia Addams might use as an intoxicating perfume, the deathly-smelling Amorphophallus titanium, also known as Titan Arum, is expected to be in bloom THIS WEEKEND at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. The plant will be on public display in SDBG’s Bamboo Garden during regular business hours from 9 am – 5 pm daily. Admission prices are $14 for adults, $10 for students/seniors/military, $8 for children, and no admission charge for children under 2 years of age.
“If there is any plant that creates a stir when in flower, it certainly is the Titan Arum,” says SDBG President & CEO Julian Duval. “One cannot predict when it will bloom. Individual plants only bloom about every 5 to 10 years and from start to finish this amazing plant usually goes through the whole bloom cycle, producing its huge inflorescence in less than 30 days.
“It (Titus Arum bloom) changes almost hourly, so you need to see it in all its stages. Yes, it stinks. But it is also other-worldly beautiful.”
Due to its odor, which smells like a rotting corpse or carcass, the Titan Arum is characterized as a carrion flower. It is best known by its more common name as the ‘Corpse Flower.’ This plant grows in the rainforests of Sumatra. This is a climate that will be replicated at the Garden once our Dickinson Family Education Conservatory is erected in late Spring/early Summer 2018, where the Garden hopes to have the titan arum as part of our permanent display.
Once this plant is in full bloom possibly this Saturday or Sunday, the Corpse Flower will be approximately 4 feet tall and emit its unique stench for only 2 days, so plan ahead because you don’t want to miss it! Today, through the end of this week, the flower will continue to grow approximately 3 inches per day until attaining its peak bloom height and then finally open up to display its full glory.
Edward Read, Manager of the Biology Greenhouse Complex at CSUF, brought this wonderful specimen down to the Garden in his Vanagon! Photo Credit: Megan Andersen, © 2017.
This plant is currently on loan from California State University Fullerton (CSUF). Edward Read, Manager of the Biology Greenhouse Complex at CSUF, brought this wonderful specimen down to the Garden – in his Vanagon! – for display at SDBG’s Gala in the Garden that occurred on Saturday, Sept. 9th.
This specimen was grown from seed planted in 2017. The seed was obtained as a collaboration between SDBG, CSUF, Fullerton Arboretum, and community member James Boohman. Mr. Boohman lent his Corpose Flower for display at the garden in 2006. It was pollinated by the staff from Fullerton and Mr. Boohman shared this sAeed with the pollen donors. This is the 12th plant to bloom from seed planted in 2007 by Mr. Read.
Come see – and smell! – this rare and unusual bloom TODAY at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas.
About San Diego Botanic Garden The San Diego Botanic Garden is a beautiful urban retreat nestled on 37-acres in the midst of Encinitas. Visitors enjoy restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms, and the nation’s largest bamboo collection. Thanks to our mild Southern California climate, plants from all over the world thrive here. Our diverse topography provides a wide variety of microclimates giving visitors the sensation of strolling through a tropical rainforest to hiking in the desert. Four miles of trails wind through 29 uniquely themed gardens including the acclaimed Hamilton Children’s Garden. In addition, the Garden regularly offers classes covering many topics including water conservation, fire-safe landscaping, hands-on flower and plant arranging, art in various media, and healthy cooking. Visitors and members also participate in frequent special weekend events and Docent-led tours.
Comments