Rare Bloom Draws Thousands to Stinky Spectacle

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens recently hosted a rare and spectacular event: the simultaneous blooming of two corpse flowers. This olfactory phenomenon, known for its potent odor often described as resembling rotten eggs or a hot dumpster, attracted thousands of eager visitors. Attendees reported waiting for over three hours to experience the bloom, which is notoriously short-lived, lasting only 24 to 48 hours.

This occurrence marked the first time The Huntington has witnessed two corpse flowers bloom concurrently. The institution has a notable history with these plants, having exhibited 29 blooms since 1999, more than any other Western U.S. location. However, the current event saw unprecedented crowd sizes, with thousands of people visiting over two days. The corpse flower, native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is an endangered species with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild.