A very unusual flower is about to bloom at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Amorphophallus gigas, native to Sumatra, is related to the headline-grabbing “corpse flower” Amorphophallus titanum. While slightly less dramatic in appearance than its relative, the distinctive inflorescence (flower head) of A. gigas can grow even taller and emits a similar carrion scent to attract fly pollinators.
Amorphophallus gigas is rare in cultivation—only nine other botanic gardens are listed as having one, according to Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)—and blooms infrequently. This plant came to BBG in 2018 as a seedling from Malaysia, and is blooming here for the first time.
“It is not as large as an Amorphophallus titanum bloom, but its uniquely tall inflorescence is a significantly more rare occurrence,” explains BBG gardener Chris Sprindis.
Sprindis first noticed the inflorescence emerging around New Year’s Eve, and quickly moved the plant from our propagation greenhouse to the Aquatic House in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Staffers have been on the edge of their seats ever since, watching the pale spadix, or spike, rapidly increase in size. The actual flowers are clustered at the base of the spadix, currently wrapped under the petal-like spathe.
Once the spathe opens, A. gigas will only bloom for a few days before collapsing, so come check it out soon!
