Saturday

07-05-2025 Vol 2012

Rare Corpse Flower ‘Chanel’ Set to Bloom at San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

In an exciting and rare occurrence, the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco is anticipating the dramatic bloom of a human-sized Amorphophallus titanum, commonly known as a corpse flower.

This striking plant, affectionately named “Chanel” by the staff, is expected to open within the forthcoming week, creating a spectacle for nature enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.

The bloom is heralded by the emergence of the tall central spike known as the spadix, which can now be seen breaking through its signature cabbage-like leaves, referred to as the spathe.

Lindzy Bivings, the interpretive programs manager at the Gardens of Golden Gate Park, which oversees the Conservatory, likened the anticipation of the bloom to childbirth, saying, “It’s just like giving birth, where you’re like, okay, here’s the sign. But you don’t actually know.”

Bivings emphasized that the process leading to this bloom is extensive, noting, “The bloom is a large work in progress because it takes about three years since the last bloom for all the energy to be stored up by this plant.”

Indigenous to the islands of Sumatra, Indonesia, the corpse flower remains a rare entity in the wild, with only a few thousand left and categorized as vulnerable.

Notably, the corpse flower is famed for producing the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, capable of reaching heights of over 10 feet.

Chanel’s anticipated bloom height is around six feet, and with it comes a distinctive and notably unpleasant odor reminiscent of rotting flesh or decaying meat.

This pungent aroma serves a critical ecological purpose. Corpse flowers attract carrion beetles, which pollinate the plant, by emulating the scent of dead animals.

Bivings elaborated on this fascinating ecological strategy, stating, “That stench is mimicking the smell of a dead animal. It’s called deception. It’s a deceptive pollination strategy, a real scientific term, which is fun.”

Accompanying the odor is an intriguing phenomenon known as thermogenesis, where the flower generates heat to further enhance the volatility of the scent. “The spadix can heat up,” Bivings mentioned. “Part of that heat is thought to volatilize the odor. In the wild, that scent can be smelled from up to a mile away.”

Those eager to witness Chanel’s bloom should keep a watchful eye, as it could happen at any moment next week, most likely between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Conservatory team is observing for key indicators, such as accelerated growth and a reddish tint at the edges of the plant.

Once the bloom occurs, it is expected to last a fleeting 24 to 48 hours.

For those keen on experiencing the odor, Bivings suggests visiting on the evening of the bloom or early the following morning, while the best time to see the magnificent flower post-bloom would be the next day or two.

Chanel is not just an isolated instance; it is part of a broader conservation initiative among botanical gardens aimed at preserving corpse flowers.

“There are botanical gardens working to do genetic studies so we can determine whether or not the corpse flowers in different gardens could be used to have a diverse enough set of genetics,” Bivings explained, highlighting the importance of genetic diversity for the species’ survival.

Chanel’s bloom follows in the tradition of other notable flowers from the Conservatory, including Scarlet in 2023 and Mirage in 2024, which was gifted to the California Academy of Sciences in 2017.

Last summer, over 7,000 visitors flocked to see Scarlet at its peak bloom during the July 4th weekend, indicating the immense public interest in these rare plants.

In anticipation of large crowds, the Conservatory will extend its hours, remaining open late on the night of the bloom until approximately 9 p.m., allowing more people to witness this remarkable event.

“We are so thrilled to have Chanel be able to bloom,” Bivings expressed.

For those unable to visit in person, virtual watchers can also tune into a live stream of the event. To stay updated on Chanel’s progress, the public is encouraged to follow the Conservatory’s social media channels.

Bivings concluded with a note on the plant’s incredible growth cycle, saying, “It’s so fascinating that it [the corpse flower] stores so much energy that it can literally grow from zero to six feet within two months.”

The unique life cycle and extraordinary features of the corpse flower continue to captivate both scientists and the general public alike.

image source from:kqed

Abigail Harper