Kansas Corpse flower is now in bloom for a short time only
By Ellisyn Sanders
Click here for updates on this story
WINFIELD, Kansas (KAKE) — For the first time in roughly 20 years, a Corpse Flower at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, has bloomed.
The rare and smelly flower has drawn hundreds of visitors from across the region to take in the unforgettable scent, often compared to rotting meat. The greenhouse staff has had this plant since it was a baby, and it has taken 20 years for it to bloom.
Experts said the plant produces a foul odor to attract flies and beetles to help it pollinate while blooming. The plant can spend decades preparing for a bloom that lasts only a day or two, making this a now-or-never experience for some visitors.
The bloom inside the campus greenhouse reached its peak Monday morning, bringing people across state lines to see the flower before it is too late.
Southwestern College Professor and greenhouse Supervisor Bryon Rinke said the rarity and odor have brought in a steady crowd, making the greenhouse a hot spot in the community.
“It’s wonderful for this community. I mean, look at all the people that it’s drawing out here, it’s great, you know. They may never get a chance to see another one,” Rinke said.
With the short bloom time, the massive flower has passed its peak and is now beginning to wilt.
Greenhouse staff said they will keep the plant on display as long as possible, until it fully collapses, but they encourage the community to go and see and smell it before it is too late.
Southwestern College livestreamed the bloom online, and the campus greenhouse is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.