Corpse Flower Opens With A Stink At Denver Botanic Gardens

DENVER (CBS4) - The highly anticipated blooming of the corpse flower has finally taken place at Denver Botanic Gardens.

The DBG informed the public at 9:45 Tuesday night that their Amorphophallus titatnum had begun opening, releasing its signature stench.

It's a unique plant that uses an unpleasant odor to attract insects that then pollinate the flower. And its blooming is rare under cultivation.

The corpse flower is about 15 years old and this is the first time it has bloomed. The bloom typically lasts for about two days.

The DBG will have extra hours for viewers to get a whiff of the smelly flower:

- 9 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday
- 6 a.m. to midnight on Thursday.

Normal 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours will resume Friday.

The gardens is warning gardens-goers that street parking will likely be necessary due to the popularity of the event.

The Gardens released a photo on their Instagram page showing the long line just before opening on Wednesday morning: