Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes are currently hosting a rare and pungent spectacle as their renowned corpse flowers, scientifically known as Amorphophallus titanum, have begun to bloom. These remarkable botanical giants, which bloom only once every eight years, are expected to remain in bloom for a fleeting 24 to 48 hours before wilting.
Mary Braunreiter, a horticulturist overseeing the tropical dome at Mitchell Park, likened the smell of the corpse flower to that of rotting flesh or a decomposing mouse, an odor that is both distinctive and fleeting in nature.
Excitement peaked when the Domes announced the bloom on their Facebook page, stating, “We’ve waited patiently for Pepe Le Pew and Penelope to pop; it’s happening now!” The foul aroma, which attracts carrion flies and beetles necessary for pollination, is expected to diminish throughout the day, as explained in a subsequent update on Sunday.
Native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the corpse flower’s infrequent blooms and powerful scent have garnered significant attention. Visitors keen to experience this rare event can visit the Domes, located at 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Early attendees will receive a complimentary Corpse Flower sticker. Admission tickets, starting at $8 for Milwaukee County residents, are available for purchase at the door.
This fleeting natural phenomenon offers an exceptional opportunity for locals and visitors alike to witness the unique lifecycle of one of nature’s most peculiar plants.
