The rare Amorphophallus titanum—commonly known as the Corpse Plant for its horrible stench when blooming — will be on display beginning Sunday, February 28, at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park. The 35-pound tropical tuber, brought to Springfield by Friends of the Garden member and primary garden designer Dr. William Roston, will be available for viewing by the public from 1 to 6 p.m. each day in the community meeting room on the north side of the park toward the Japanese Stroll Garden.

During the 24 to 48 hours of its blooming cycle, estimated to occur in the next one to three weeks, longer visiting hours will be announced.

The gargantuan flower that’s been called the superstar of the plant kingdom has been growing at a rate of about three inches daily, and this week reached a height of 45 inches and 22.5 inches in diameter, according to George Deatz, president of the 300-member volunteer group. Titanum grows in the wild only on the island of Sumatra.

"This is quite an event for Springfield," said Deatz. "It’s a rare blooming flower with few on display in the U.S." 

The Friends of the Garden has been active since 1998 in pursuing funding and encouraging interest in building the 12,700-square-foot botanical center in the 114-acre park on South Scenic Avenue. The facility is expected to be completed in September 2010. The group has created 21 gardens with plans for 24 more.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Friends of the Garden Growth and Maintenance Fund can be made to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks or sent to the group at P.O. Box 8566, Springfield MO 65801. The Friends of the Garden web site is friendsofthegarden.org.

Posted Feb.19, 2010:
By pure coincidence in timing, one of the most unusual and rare tubers in the world, Amorphophallus titanum, will be on display courtesy of Friends of the Garden at the Springfield Lawn & Garden Show beginning today.

Dr. Bill Roston, whose idea it was to create the Butterfly House at Close Memorial Park, has been nurturing the tuber in hopes of it coming out of dormancy. It must have been planning for the show, because it's now in the beginning stages of creating it's bloom. Not only does it have one of the largest flowering structures in the world (inflorescence), it's most famous for it's stench. Don't worry, it's not odoriferous now, only for the few hours when the bloom is open.

This amazing plant is expected to reach full bloom in roughly three weeks, follow the FOG blog to stay informed of it's progress. And of it's showing, which if it achieves bloom, will be posted here at the FOG Calendar and Facebook.

'On August 2, 1999 an Amorphophallus titanum achieved full bloom at the Huntington Botanic Garden in San Marino, California. This was only the 11th recorded bloom in the United States and the first ever in California. Equally astonishing was the number of people who came to visit this magnificent plant on the peak day of its blooming period, over 10,000 admirers. They waited patiently in a long line in 80-90 degree heat, a line that at one time extended the length of two football fields (or about 200 meters). Some people wore protective nose masks, and one boy even wore a gas mask. Actually, no one was overcome by the stench (the plant was roped off to prevent people from getting their faces too close to the funnel-shaped spathe).'

For more information on this fascinating plant, see the following:
1) 'Corpse Flower' Blooms, Ends Smelly Peak: here
2) Amorphophallus titanum: History & Statistics: here
3) Two page information sheet from Kew Gardens, London: here

Must SEE.

COOL.