Towering at 2.13 metres, Adelaide’s famously stinky star “Smellanie” has officially started its rare bloom at Adelaide Botanic Garden, and the countdown is on. Over the next 24 hours, the deep crimson petals will unfurl, the central spike will rise, and the plant will release its notorious odour as the tiny flowers at its base burst into bloom.
But you’ll need to be quick—within just two days, the smell will fade and the giant bloom will begin to collapse.
Also known as the Titan Arum, this endangered botanical marvel is expected to draw thousands of visitors keen to catch the short-lived spectacle. Can’t make it in person? You can watch the bloom unfold live via stream as it happens.
Rising over two metres, Smellanie’s size is as impressive as its scent. Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, the titan arum produces the largest inflorescence on the planet. What appears to be a single dramatic flower is actually hundreds of tiny blooms clustered together, hidden within the base of the deep burgundy spathe and wrapped around the central spadix. When it opens, the plant heats itself and releases a carefully engineered cocktail of aromas designed to mimic decaying flesh, drawing in night-active pollinators that would usually seek out rotting organic matter.
The bloom is the result of decades of patience and meticulous conservation work. This particular plant last flowered a couple of years ago, and can trace its lineage back to just three seeds donated to the Botanic Gardens in 2006. From that small starting point, horticulturists have grown a collection of around 250 titan arum plants through cross-pollination and leaf cuttings, placing Adelaide among a select group of botanic gardens worldwide capable of reliably cultivating the species.
As dramatic as it is, the event is only brief. Once the spathe begins to open, the transformation happens quickly, and the entire flowering cycle lasts only about 48 hours. The scent peaks during the first night, fades through the day, and returns more gently on the second evening before the flower collapses and retreats back into dormancy, sometimes for years.
For visitors, patience will be required as long queues come along with the bloom. Entry to the conservatory will be free on the first and second days of the bloom. A suggested donation of $5–$10 per adult helps support ongoing conservation work and future displays like this one.
For those who miss the narrow window, Smellanie’s return to silence will be swift. But for now, Adelaide has the chance to experience one of nature’s strangest wonders up close. More information and all the details can be found on the Adelaide Botanic Garden’s website and social media.
Corpse Flower in Bloom
Where: Bicentennial Conservatory, Adelaide Botanic Garden (enter via Friends’ Gate, Plane Tree Drive)
Cost: Free entry during bloom (donations encouraged)
For more information, click here.
There’s also a livestream! Check it out here.
