News » 16.10.2026 - Grand Valley State's corpse flower set to bloom again, ahead of expected schedule

A rare corpse flower at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is preparing to bloom again, bringing with it the plant's signature rotting-flesh odor and a blooming schedule that has been far more frequent than expected. The corpse flower, housed in the Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse, last bloomed in 2024 while it was on loan at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Native to Sumatra, the corpse flower emits a smell like rotting flesh to attract flies that pollinate it. It is one of the largest plants in the world, and its peak bloom is brief, typically lasting only 24 to 36 hours, according to Christina Hipshier, the greenhouse supervisor. The plant first bloomed at Grand Valley in 2022, when about 3,500 visitors came to the greenhouse, according to GVSU.

Starting Oct. 12, GVSU will open the greenhouse to the public on the Valley Campus in Allendale so visitors can see the tropical plant, nicknamed "The Beast." The plant is not expected to reach peak bloom — and peak odor — until later in the week, and visiting hours will expand when the peak appears imminent.

The plant's repeated blooms have surprised staff. After the initial bloom in 2022, it was not expected to bloom again for another seven to 10 years. The plant was gifted to Grand Valley in 2015 by a former faculty member. It wasn't expected to bloom for another seven to 10 years after its initial bloom in 2022.
 

Source:www.floraldaily.com

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