Rare corpse flower blooms at Shangri La in Orange
A rare corpse flower began blooming at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange, May 10, an event that occurs about once every 10 years.
“It’s a very rare flower,” Jennifer Buckner, director of cultural operations, said. “It’s actually endangered in its natural habitat, and there are fewer than 1,000 now. A lot of the time, you have to go to a botanical garden like this to see it on display.”
As its name suggests, the blooming corpse flower smells like rotting flesh, attracting pollinators such as carrion beetles and flies.
The Shangri La flower is named Elenore, after the mother plant, Lenore, which bloomed in 2013. Elenore, which was separated from the main plant in 2017, began to show rapid signs of growth beginning in April.
“It's been over a month since we noticed this was a flower bud,” Buckner said. “It’s grown rapidly from just a few inches to the 62 inches you see today.”
Officially known as Amorphophallus titanum, the corpse flower is the largest unbranched inflorescence — which is an arrangement of multiple flowers on a plant stem, branch or system of branches — in the world, and can reach up to 10 feet in height.
The plant has been under close watch for the past week as once it blooms the flower is only open for a short time. Buckner said the staff noticed the plant opening Sunday morning.
“We came in ready to open and saw some color change a bit, but the drastic part happened about two hours or so in,” Buckner said. “We saw that the green ruffly part around the center part started to open, and it has continued to open.”
Elenore has completely bloomed and will stay in her flourishing state for 24 to 48 hours, Buckner said.
“We’re so excited that everyone can come and experience this,” she said.
Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center has extended its hours for visitors to view Elenor in all her stinky glory.
The center is located at 2111 West Park Ave. in Orange. For more information, visit shangrilagardens.org.
