The giant corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum), also known in Polish as “dziwidło,” has bloomed for the second time at the Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw. The rare tropical plant, famous for its enormous size and foul odor, began blooming in the early hours of August 5, 2025, reaching over 180 cm in height with an inflorescence span of 122 cm.
“The flowering process is incredibly dynamic and spectacular,” said Piotr Dobrzyński, caretaker of the plant. “The plant’s temperature rose to 68°C, helping release its strong odor to attract pollinators such as flies and beetles.”
Known for its pungent smell resembling rotting meat, the bloom is designed to lure pollinators by mimicking the scent and warmth of decaying flesh. This remarkable flowering event is extremely rare, typically occurring once every few years.
To allow the public to witness this extraordinary sight, the Botanical Garden has extended its opening hours until 10:00 p.m., with a live stream available on its YouTube channel.
Date of publication: 5 August 2025
Source: University of Warsaw
