World’s largest corpse flower that smells like ‘rotting meat’ to bloom for first time at Toronto Zoo

The species only blooms for 8 to 36 hours, zoo officials say

Corpse Flower (Toronto Zoo)

One of the world’s largest flowers, known as the “corpse flower”, will bloom at the Toronto Zoo – a first for the zoo and the city

The corpse flower, officially titled Amorphophallus titanum, has been recorded as having the world’s tallest bloom. It is also known for its tremendous pungent smell; Toronto Zoo officials have likened it to that of rotting meat.

For the first time ever the corpse flower will bloom at the Toronto Zoo, with officials projecting the majority of the plant’s specimens to bloom in the next two weeks.

“This species only blooms for [eight to 36] hours and this is the first time this species has bloomed in the GTA [greater Toronto area], and the fifth time one has bloomed within Canada!” the Zoo said in a statement.

One of the six specimens of the smelly plant, under the care of the Zoo’s horticulture division, has begun its early bloom – four years ahead of schedule.

The corpse plant species, a native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, can take six to 10 years to produce its first flower, zoo officials said.

The Toronto Zoo has continued to keep the public informed on the status of the flower and when it’s projected to bloom. The zoo will hold extended viewing hours in its Greenhouse during the plant’s bloom period.

The corpse plant that has started its early bloom, dubbed "Pablo “Pe-ew” Caso", is expected to bloom towards the end of the week.

“It’s a big event and we’re very excited here at the Toronto Zoo,” said Paul Gellatly, curatorial gardener at the zoo.

Facebook users have expressed excitement over the anticipation for the plant’s bloom period.

“Anxiously waiting !!!,” one Facebook user wrote on the zoo’s page. “This is amazing.”