Michele and Charles visited the Corpse Flower…at midnight…on a lark.
Read on for some insane science and an unknown number of people willing to smell death.
Written By Michele Miller Houck from the NC Science Trail:
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were doing what all great adventurers do before a major expedition: sitting on the couch watching TV.
Then it happened.
Charles: “Hey, did you know the corpse flower is blooming at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens tonight?”
Me: “WHATTTT? Let’s goooooo!”
And just like that, Netflix was abandoned, shoes were found, and two and a half hours later, I was almost at the end of long, snaking line outside the McGill Greenhouse, deeply inhaling regret.
The Scent of Science (and Rotting Meat)
They call it the “corpse flower” for a reason. Every so often, a gust of air would waft out of the greenhouse, and the crowd would collectively wrinkle their noses. It’s a smell that defies description — part dumpster juice, part gym sock, part “something died under the porch.”
And yet… it was awesome.
There we were, surrounded by about a thousand other people, shifting from foot to foot, craning our necks to see if the line was moving. From time to time, a staff member would come out to update us like the world’s friendliest bouncer:
“You’re about 45 minutes away from the stink!”
Meet Cadavera: The Drama Queen of the Plant World
The star of the evening was Cadavera, one of UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens’ Titan arums — also known as the corpse flower. It’s a diva among plants: it spends years storing energy underground, then blooms spectacularly (and stinkily) for just 24 hours before collapsing in a wilted heap of drama.
Cadavera is part of a famous local family tree. Here’s a quick family gossip rundown:
- Bella (2007 & 2010): The original Queen Bee of the greenhouse.
- Odie (2015 & 2018): Double bloomer and parent to future generations.
- Rotney (2018 & 2020): Fast grower, pandemic survivor (with a “deformed spadix” TBF – it was 2020, we all had issues).
- Stinkerbell (2023): Smaller but mighty, sister of Cadavera
Cadavera (2025): Our current celebrity bloom — sibling of Stinkerbell, child of Odie and Morpheus (from the Daniel Stowe Conservancy).
This was the 8th corpse flower bloom at UNC Charlotte since 2007. Clearly, they’re running a top-tier daycare for stinky giants.
How to Make a Baby Corpse Flower
Because its natural pollinators (carrion beetles and flesh flies) aren’t exactly hanging out in the greenhouse, staff have to hand-pollinate the plants. It’s part romance, part science experiment.
Here’s the basic love story (and why they need a hand):
- Night One: The female flowers are ready.
- Day Two: The male flowers open — but too late. Classic missed connection.
So the horticulture staff play matchmaker — carefully transferring pollen from one plant (sometimes saved from a previous bloom or borrowed from another garden, in this case Stowe Conservancy) to another. That’s how they got Cadavera and her sister in the first place.
Watching a Bloom in Real Time
Once this plant decides it’s time, it really goes for it. During the blooming phase, the bud can grow up to 4 inches per day, powered by a massive underground “corm” (basically a plant battery). When it’s ready, the flower opens in a few dramatic hours — and releases its legendary eau de decay.
Cadavera’s “peak stink” hit during the evening, just in time for our visit. And despite the smell (or maybe because of it), the crowd was positively giddy.
The Name Game
Cadavera’s name came from a social media contest — and it’s perfect. “Cadavera” is the plural of cadaver, meaning dead body. A bit dark? Yes. A bit theatrical? Also yes. Very on brand for a flower that smells like the undead.
Bloom and Doom
The corpse flower is the largest unbranched inflorescence (fancy plant word for “flower structure”) in the world — sometimes growing over eight feet tall. And it’s native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it doesn’t have to deal with long lines of curious humans holding their noses and taking selfies.
At UNC Charlotte, greenhouse manager Tammy Blume summed it up perfectly:
“It’s very exciting and I love it when we have a bloom. We have livestream viewing available, and it’s amazing knowing people are watching from around the world. They’re keeping an eye on it just like we are.”
So there we were, among the faithful stink-watchers — watching nature’s weirdest, smelliest miracle unfold before our very eyes.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
Would I wear a mask next time? Also yes.
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There you have it! A first person encounter of the smelliest, and probably coolest, flower alive! Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the next chance to view a corpse flower in person. You don’t want to miss it.