Rare corpse flower could bloom in Colorado during Memorial Day weekend

Flower will emit odor compared to smell of decaying flesh

DENVER (KDVR) — Does it smell like death in here?

If you are looking for a unique way to spend your Memorial Day weekend, head to the Plant Growth Facility Conservatory at Colorado State University in Fort Collins — unless you have a sensitive nose.

For the first time, a corpse flower named Cosmo is slated to bloom this weekend. This is an incredibly rare sight — and smell — because Cosmo has been growing for more than seven years for this very moment. Once he blooms, the corpse flower won’t bloom again for another three to five years.

“This is a rare occasion and a big deal because it will be the first bloom for the corpse flower here at CSU,” said Tammy Brenner, Colorado State University Plant Growth Facilities Manager.

The plant grew more than five inches from May 18-19. After speaking with some colleagues, Brenner expects the corpse flower to bloom around Saturday, May 25.

When Cosmo blooms, he will emit a putrid odor that has been compared to the smell of decaying flesh. Perfect for any morbid people out there.

The smell will become less pronounced after the first 12-24 hours, and the bloom only lasts around two to three days, according to CSU.

What is a corpse flower and why does it smell like that?

According to CSU, the corpse flower is known as Amorphophallus titanium, and it is the largest unbranched inflorescence (or collection of flowers acting as one) in the plant kingdom. These plants can grow up to eight feet.

Even though the corpse flower’s stench is not ideal for humans, the putrid smell actually lures pollinators like carrion beetles and flies.

According to the U.S. Botanic Garden, the corpse flower is native to Sumatra, Indonesia and an estimate of fewer than 1,000 species are left in the wild.

Institutions like CSU began cultivating corpse flowers to preserve their genetics and learn more about how they thrive.

Usually, the plant goes dormant in the fall when students return to campus, so Brenner said they hide Cosmo.

“It looks a little sad, so we usually hide it in the back, so no one thinks we’re killing it,” Brenner said. 

However, this year Brenner expects people from around the community to visit Fort Collins to get a glimpse and sniff at Cosmo when he’s in full bloom.

However, there is a slim caveat.

While it appears Cosmo will bloom this weekend, there is a chance it won’t happen.

How to see and sniff the corpse flower

So, if you want to take your chances, public viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The flower is expected to bloom around Saturday, and viewing will be open each day while the flower is in bloom.

Visitors can go to the Plant Growth Facility Conservatory at 1241 Libbie Coy Way in Fort Collins.

If the smell of death makes you queasy, you probably shouldn’t sniff this flower.