Had a quick trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden today and had a chance to see this bad boy/girl. It is known as the corpse flower and only blooms every few years, which is probably good because they smell like rotting flesh when the do bloom. They are native to Indonesia. There is more info in the links below. The Botanic Garden has a few, and they all have names. Agnostic, meet Java.
10
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
6 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I know that plant and first saw it on one of David Attenborough's series on plants. One showed up at a conservatory in one of Seattle's parks. There are other plants in this category and one is called a VooDoo Lily. I have some here and they are strange plants that do smell like a corpse when fertile. They are seeking insects (like flies) to pollinate them. They are grown from a bulb which does multiply and need to occasionally be thinned. They don't seem fussy about soil or light. [plantdelights.com]
JackPedigo
Level 9
May 19, 2019
0
Nice website.
I want one. I wonder how hard they are to grow?
Carin
Level 8
May 18, 2019
0
Good question. You would need a semi tropical environment to stat with, and some space.
I bought a house years ago with a smaller relative of that, one purple bloom yearly right below my kitchen window that stank terribly and attracted flies. Rather beautiful, and fascinating, and now wish I'd dug it up to take and transplant with me . . . somewhere further from the house!
tinkercreek
Level 8
May 18, 2019
1
Voodoo lily maybe?
These plants attract flies as pollinators. It's why they smell the way they do. I can't imagine having such an odor around, although I have been curious. I prefer the flowers that prefer bees to pollinate them. 
@RussRAB Yeah, why would anyone want to attract flies?
See my comment. When the plant dies back dig up a few bulbs and transplant them. Just for laughs plant some in a neighbor's or friend's yard and see their reaction.
I remember a skunk plant, possibly in the Pacific Northwest. Lovely flower but OMG!
HippieChick58
Level 9
May 18, 2019
4
Recent Visitors 30
itsmedammit
IL, USA
FrostyJim
AK, USA
RichieO
Co. Clare Ireland,
MikeInBatonRouge
Baton Rouge,
RussRAB
TX, USA
Photos 5,325 More
Posted by JolantaUnusual fungi.
Posted by FernappleI am trying to grow some extra salad crops this year in the new greenhouse.
Posted by JolantaBugg life.
Posted by glennlab My first flowers of this spring. Lotus and blue bells
Posted by glennlab My first flowers of this spring. Lotus and blue bells
Posted by FrostyJimSeedlings ..
Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.
Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.
Posted by FernappleIts Hellebore season now.
Posted by FrostyJim...don't be silly!
Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.
Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.
Posted by KateOahuI saw some pretty flowers on a walk today. I’d never seen a white Hibiscus before. And I do not know what the pink flowers are.
Posted by FrostyJimI usually drink coffee while planting seeds?
Posted by KilltheskyfairyI love all the information on the internet that makes me a better gardener…
Posted by Jaylo64Primative hydroponic system /an old shoe rack and coffee cans ! Cans above drip into the cans below !