CSU’s rare corpse flower has bloomed! (2024)

Watch a live stream of Cosmo in the video player above!

Back in 2016, Colorado State University Plant Growth Facilities Manager Tammy Brenner brought back what might be the coolest piece of conference swag ever: a corpse flower named Cosmo.

Now, after eight years of care in the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Conservatory, it finally bloomed the evening of Saturday, May 25.

“Cosmo came out of dormancy around three weeks ago, and we didn’t expect anything exciting,” Brenner said last week. “But then two weeks ago, it started looking a little bit more full, a little bit more plump. It started growing and shooting out stalks, and we realized something really big was about to happen.”

While in bloom, Cosmo emitted a putrid odor that has been compared to the smell of decaying flesh. This will become less pronounced after the first 12-24 hours, and the bloom itself will only last for around two to three days.

After that, Cosmo the corpse flower won’t bloom again for another three to five years.

“This is a rare occasion and a big deal because it will be the first bloom for the corpse flower here at CSU,” Brenner said.

Hundreds of people from Fort Collins and beyond flocked to CSU to see Cosmo in action, with a line winding along the block on Sunday morning.

“I’ve been watching the live stream religiously to be like ‘where’s it at? Do we need to get in line, should we camp?'” said Shiv Tuck.

CSU alumnus Bill Zanca, who lives in Breckenridge, was able to see and smell Cosmo while in Fort Collins visiting his daughter over the holiday weekend.

“I’m pretty struck by the short amount of time between when it was not fully open and when it bloomed,” he said. “It’s such a gorgeous plant – it’s just amazing to see such a thing. I’ve never seen a plant like that before, so that’s pretty awesome.”


How to see the corpse flower

When: The bloom began to occur on Saturday evening. It is expected to stay in bloom for 24-48 hours. Cosmo will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day that the bloom occurs, so likely Sunday, May 26, and Monday, May 27.

Where: The Plant Growth Facility Conservatory at 1241 Libbie Coy Way, Fort Collins, CO, 80523.

Parking: Corpse flower visitors should park in the South College Avenue Garage, 121 W. Pitkin St., Fort Collins, CO, 80523. The University Station for the MAX line is within walking distance of the PGF. To reach the PGF entrance from the parking garage, walk west on Pitkin, and follow the signs for the corpse flower viewing line. Only the west doors provide access to the viewing area. Visitors should be prepared to wait in line.

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CSU’s corpse flower Cosmo bloomed the evening of May 25. It was an event that was eight years in the making. (Photos: John Eisele, CSU)


What is a corpse flower, and why does CSU have one?

The corpse flower, or Amorphophallus titanum, is the largest unbranched inflorescence (or collection of flowers acting as one) in the plant kingdom. They can grow up to 8 feet tall; and during bloom, their corpse-like smell lures pollinators like carrion beetles and flies.

The corpse flower is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, and there are estimated to be fewer than 1,000 individual specimens in the wild, according to the U.S. Botanic Garden.

Numerous botanical gardens and universities like CSU have begun cultivating corpse flowers to preserve its genetics and learn more about how these enigmatic plants thrive.

Brenner received Cosmo during a plant swap at the annual Association of Educator and Greenhouse Research Curators conference. Cosmo’s “parents,” Maudine and Woody, both came from Ohio State University and were “born” on May 24, 2013.

Brenner said life was fairly routine during Cosmo’s first few years at CSU. Throughout the year, the corpse flower produces a giant stem-like structure and a leaf but goes dormant in the fall when students return to campus from summer break.

“It looks a little sad, so we usually hide it in the back so no one thinks we’re killing it,” Brenner said.

This year will be different, and Brenner expects people from around the community to pay Cosmo a visit while he’s in full bloom. Other corpse flower blooms at places like the Denver Botanic Gardens have attracted large crowds, and the conservatory will open its doors for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day it is in bloom.

Previously, Brenner said there was a slim chance Cosmo might not bloom at all.

“At the end of the day, plants are still unpredictable, but with the data we have, we’re eagerly awaiting the bloom,” Brenner said.

Just like how Brenner received the corpse flower seed at a conference all those years ago, she hopes to return the favor and share Cosmo’s genetics with other institutions across the country so they can have their own corpse flowers.

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Scroll through this image carousel for a look at how Cosmo the corpse flower has grown since May 13.

Year-round sights at the PGF Conservatory

Cosmo the corpse flower is one of the dozens of plants inside the Plant Growth Facilities Conservatory, which is located in a greenhouse on the east end of the CSU campus in Fort Collins.

It’s a key piece of the network of 11 Agricultural Experiment Stations scattered across the state, and the starting point for research around vital Colorado crops like corn, hemp, sorghum and wheat.

In addition to being home to numerous research operations, Brenner said the PGF Conservatory is truly a place for the community to enjoy, hosting everything from painting and drawing classes to writing workshops. It’s home to an assortment of plants that aren’t typically seen in Colorado, ranging from banana and pomegranate trees to lush ferns to multiple desert plants.

“A lot of our international students get really excited to be here because some of our plants make them feel like they’re at home,” Brenner said.

The conservatory is typically open from around 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week and has numerous tables and chairs that allow people to take in the sights and enjoy this hidden gem year-round.

The Plant Growth Facilities team is asking for support to purchase new lighting for their facility so it can continue to be a resource to the public and advance important research.

All gifts to this project benefit the CSU-Agricultural Experiment Station Enrichment fund: col.st/h9X8W.

CSU’s rare corpse flower has bloomed! (2024)

FAQs

CSU’s rare corpse flower has bloomed!? ›

Cosmo, Colorado State University's stinky and rare corpse flower, bloomed for the first time Saturday night. Hundreds of people are lined up Sunday, completely circling the block on the CSU campus that holds the Plant Growth Facilities, to catch a glimpse and a selfie of Cosmo.

When was the last time the corpse flower bloomed? ›

The U.S. Botanic Garden has displayed blooming corpse flowers in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017 (three blooms), and 2020 (two blooms), 2021, and 2022 (four blooms).

How rare is a corpse flower bloom? ›

They can grow up to 8 feet tall; and during bloom, their corpse-like smell lures pollinators like carrion beetles and flies. The corpse flower is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, and there are estimated to be fewer than 1,000 individual specimens in the wild, according to the U.S. Botanic Garden.

How to know when a corpse flower will bloom? ›

Second, the two protective modified leaves (called bracts) that encircle the base of the spathe begin to shrivel and dry up. In the days before full bloom, they fall off—first one, then the other. That's a sign that the bloom is likely to happen.

Why does the corpse flower only bloom every 7 years? ›

It takes seven to ten years for a single corpse flower to gather enough energy to begin its bloom cycle. The Garden began collecting titan arums in 2003, as part of a worldwide conservation effort to preserve the species.

What is the rarest flower on Earth? ›

The Middlemist Red Camellia, or Camellia japonica 'Middlemist's Red,' is an exceptionally rare flower with vibrant pinkish-red petals. With only two known living specimens in the world, both located in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, it holds the title of the rarest flowering plant on Earth.

What flower blooms every 100 years? ›

Agave Americana Blooms Once Every Hundred Years

You have to admit the plant looks like it's from another time (Jurassic or Triassic) or possibly from another planet. But no, the agave americana is definitely from Earth.

Can you own a corpse flower? ›

Can you grow a corpse flower houseplant? Yes, but you need to be aware of a few critical things for best results: These are understory plants in the wild, so bright indirect light, or dappled sun at the most, would be needed.

Is the corpse flower edible? ›

Is it edible? This species is not known to be edible, but corms of other Amorphophallus species are used as a food source.

What is the purpose of the corpse flower? ›

About the Corpse Flower

Found within the dense rainforests of Sumatra, Amorphophallus titanum earn the nickname of corpse flower by mimicking an odor of rotten meat to attract pollinators such as carrion beetles and flies.

How long can a corpse flower live? ›

Corpse flowers have a long life span, 30-40 years, and they bloom quite rarely, on average every 7-10 years.

What is the largest stinky flower in the world? ›

Rafflesia arnoldii, the corpse flower, or giant padma, is a species of flowering plant in the parasitic genus Rafflesia. It is noted for producing the largest individual flower on Earth. It has a strong and unpleasant odor of decaying flesh. It is native to the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo.

What is a death bloom? ›

What Is A Death Bloom? "Death bloom" refers to the act of a plant dying when it has bloomed and produced seeds. The seeds' production causes hormonal changes within the plant that redirect resources and energy from the roots and leaves to the seed production, and ultimately, the plant will die.

What is the flower of death? ›

Graves and death were soon associated with the red spider lily, earning it the name of 'death flower' and the even darker, 'corpse flower'.

Is the corpse flower asexual? ›

Corpse flowers can reproduce both asexually and sexually. When they reproduce asexually, they produce multiple plants that get sent out to botanic gardens, but they lack genetic diversity through this method of reproduction, reports Undark. A corpse flower only blooms for 24 to 36 hours before the blossom collapses.

Is the corpse flower carnivorous? ›

The corpse flower doesn't actually eat meat

Unlike carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap, titan arum plants are pretty typical when it comes to their diet: they thrive on moisture, soil and sunlight. Insects are strictly pollinators — not food!

What flower takes 40 years to bloom? ›

Amorphophallus Titanum, the largest flower in the. world. It blooms once every 40 years only for 4 days! Also called the Corpse Flower because of the smell.

Is the corpse flower going extinct? ›

How many corpse flowers are left? ›

The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimation of fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

What flower only blooms once every 10 years? ›

An Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a corpse flower, began blooming Tuesday afternoon at the California Academy of Sciences, a research institution and museum. The plant blooms for one to three days once every seven to 10 years.

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