What's that Smell? A Rare Opportunity Awaits at Denver Botanic Gardens

Photo courtesy Denver Botanic Garden Facebook

If you are currently a resident at The Amaranth, you know just how easy it is to make a trip across the street to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens. However, in the next couple of weeks, a truly rare, possibly even a once in a lifetime, opportunity awaits. While this opportunity may not smell all that enticing, you have to experience it to believe it. Intrigued yet? This rare sight and experience is none other than the Corpse Flower.

The Corpse Flower, otherwise known as the Titum Arum, is named for the foul smell it emits in order to attract pollinators. The flower is predicted to bloom within the next couple of weeks, with a current predicted date of August 16. Once it begins to bloom, the flower will only continue to do so for approximately 48 hours. This will mark the very first time the Corpse Flower at Denver Botanic Gardens has blossomed, and this is the only Corpse Flower to be found in the Rocky Mountain Region!

While the rotting flesh-like smell emitted by the plant may deter you from wanting to visit it in-person, with all odors aside, the flower is a beautiful sight when it blossoms. Upon blooming, the flower displays gorgeous purple and yellow petals. It can take up to 20 years after it is planted for the flower to bloom, and there may be up to a 10 year gap between blossoms. The flower at the Gardens is from Sumatra and is 15 years old.

Are you interested in seeing (and smelling) this unique flower for yourself? Be sure to follow Denver Botanic Gardens on social media (here are links to their Facebook and Twitter pages) for up-to-date news, or search using the hashtag #StinkyDBG! Last month in Berkeley, California, the Corpse Flower at UC Berkeley drew approximately 2,000 visitors when it bloomed! The Botanic Gardens does plan to extend its hours while the flower blooms to accommodate more visitors. Good thing we live right across the street, because in the next couple of weeks, all eyes will be on the Denver Botanic Garden's Corpse Flower!

Additional sources consulted:
ABC News 7 Denver
9 News