Native to Sumatra, the "corpse flower" -- officially known as the amorphophallus titanium -- is a flower of many mysteries. The flower starts as a tuber, lives most of its life as one big leaf, and then blooms into a giant, rotting-flesh-smelling flower. Since corpse flowers usually bloom only two or three times in their lives, it is big news when it does happen. In various botanical gardens around the country, the amorphophallus titanium flower is emerging.
Source of article: Corpse Flower - Amorphophallus titanium blooms around the country by Personal Money Store
The cycle of a corpse flower
For numerous reasons, a corpse flower is distinctive. Typically grown in Sumatra, the flower is rare. The very pungent scent of the flower is meant to attract not bees and birds but flies and beetles. They pollinate these flowers. In greenhouses and botanical gardens around the country, amorphophallus titanium flowers are kept very carefully. The flowers bring in lots of crowds.
Keeping a corpse flower alive
Very few gardens sell amorphophallus titanium starts. Because corpse flowers are difficult to pollinate, they are generally pollinated with frozen pollen. In Berkley, you can purchase a Titan arum start around $ 35 and $ 50. The flowers tend to be very touchy. Most of the life cycle just has one big leaf. The flower only blooms a couple times and smells awful. If you really want one of these liver-colored, huge, stinky plants, you may want to build a closed-off addition to your sun room.
Less stinky, but just as cool