DEXTER, Mich. – The rare blooming of a corpse flower is taking place in Metro Detroit.
UPDATE: The corpse flower stream has ended. Thanks for watching!
A local couple has been caring for the corpse flower in Dexter for more than six years, and now, it’s ready to bloom.
When the plant blooms, it releases a smell that is described by some as akin to rotting flesh, rotting food or sweaty socks. The smell attracts insects, such as carrion beetles and flies that pollinate the plant.
The bloom period can last 1-3 days.
You can watch a 24/7 live feed of the corpse flower as we wait for it to bloom in the live stream player above, or live on the Local 4+ smart TV app, which is free to download.
Why it’s called a corpse flower
Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a corpse flower, is a plant that blooms one to three days once every seven to 10 years. The bloom can grow up to 8 feet tall.
When the plant blooms, it releases a smell that is described by some as akin to rotting flesh, rotting food or sweaty socks. The smell attracts insects, such as carrion beetles and flies that pollinate the plant.
The corpse flower is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has it listed as endangered. There are only believed to be 1,000 individual plants left in the world.
More backstory on the corpse flower in Dexter: