Watch Live: Huntington’s Corpse Flower, ‘Stankosaurus Rex,’ Reaches Record Size Ahead of Expected Bloom

A corpse flower expected to display its rare and odorific bloom any time now at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is now the institution’s largest ever at 7 feet, 2 inches tall as of Thursday morning.

The plant, officially designated Amorphophallus titanum but known as a corpse flower due to the pungent odor it releases upon blooming, has been dubbed “Stankosurus Rex.”

It grew 5 inches in one night, reaching a height of 82 inches on Wednesday, shattering the previous record of 81 inches set in 2009, The Huntington reported in a written statement. 

Corpse flowers, which can reach more than 8 feet tall, generally bloom only once every several years, and on an unpredictable basis, according to The Huntington. They are native to the equatorial rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia.

“Growth has slowed slightly [Wednesday], and we’re seeing some loosening of the ruffley outer spathe, which tells us a bloom could be soon,” The Huntington said via a Facebook post.

There’s no way to know exactly when Stankosaurus Rex will open it’s colorful petals and release its signature smell, which is often likened to rotting meat.

“We don’t know how much bigger it will get, but our smelly friend is available for limited in-person viewing from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Conservatory,” according to The Huntington statement. “Only the front of the Conservatory — where the Corpse Flower is located — is open to visitors. Reservations not required to visit weekdays, but capacity in the Conservatory will be limited.”

If the bloom occurs after public hours, a special one-night viewing will be hosted, representatives said.

More information is available on the website of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, huntington.org/corpse-flower.