The infamous giant stinky flower is just about to bloom at the New York Botanical Garden

"Once again, we're here to chronicle the blooming schedule of the notorious amorphophallus gigas-the rare corpse flower that regularly graces the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) with its presence. This year, the infamously stinky plant is expected to bloom right around Halloween. Remember, this spectacle happens only once every three to five years and lasts just about three days, so as soon as you hear word of its bloom, head straight to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (you can sign up for alerts right here)."

"Fun fact: according to the NYBG itself, the putrid smell, which reminds of rotting meat, is meant to attract pollinators that eat dead animals. Back in January, New Yorkers witnessed the blooming of the smelly flower at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, but there is something slightly more special about catching the show at the Bronx destination, the first place where such a flower ever bloomed in the Western hemisphere back in 1937."

The rare corpse flower Amorphophallus gigas at the New York Botanical Garden is expected to bloom around Halloween, a phenomenon that occurs every three to five years and lasts about three days. The bloom releases a putrid, rotting-meat scent meant to attract pollinators that feed on carrion. The Bronx garden first hosted such a bloom in 1937 and recorded subsequent blooms in 1939, 2016, 2018, and 2023. The 2016 event drew about 25,000 visitors and nearly two million online viewers. A bloom occurred in January at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Alerts and a live stream are available online.

Read at Time Out New York