By Wyoming-Kentwood News Today Staff
greer@wktv.org
The corpse flower at Grand Valley State University is getting ready to bloom again and emit its rotting-flesh odor, continuing a blooming timetable that is significantly more prolific than expected.
The Amorphophallus titanum in the Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse last bloomed in 2024, when it was on loan at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for visitors, as it was during a quiet time on campus when staffing was low. The plant first bloomed in 2022, when Grand Valley welcomed about 3,500 visitors to the greenhouse.
Starting Oct. 12, Grand Valley will welcome the public once again at the greenhouse on the Valley Campus in Allendale to view the rare tropical plant lovingly nicknamed “The Beast.” While it is not expected to be in peak bloom – and odor – until later in the week, when the peak appears imminent, visiting hours will expand.
The plant, which is native to Sumatra, smells like rotting flesh to attract the flies that pollinate the plant. It is one of the largest plants in the world and the peak bloom is fleeting, usually lasting only 24-36 hours, said Christina Hipshier, greenhouse supervisor.
For a plant teeming with unique characteristics, the corpse flower at GVSU has added another one with its blooming schedule. After its initial bloom in 2022 – it was gifted to Grand Valley in 2015 by a former faculty member – it wasn’t expected to bloom for another seven to 10 years.
The 2024 bloom seemed a botanical aberration. With this newest expected bloom, Hipshier is “assuming now this is an established pattern.”
She said the plant grows in the greenhouse’s tropical room, with a general temperature of around 70 degrees and a humidity level of around 70 percent, with regular misting.
But for a plant so spectacular, it doesn’t need special attention, aside from ensuring it isn’t overwatered during its dormant period, Hipshier said. She also sets the plant in a woolen bag to better wick moisture.
How to see GVSU’s corpse flower on the Valley Campus in Allendale:
*Starting Oct. 12, the Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse in the Kindschi Hall of Science will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for visitors.
*When the bloom is imminent, the greenhouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
*For fastest updates on expanded hours for peak bloom, check HERE and HERE ON INSTAGRAM.
*Visitors may obtain a free day parking permit at GVSU’s Parking Services office near the Lake Michigan Drive entrance. They can also utilize pay-to-park options.
