You’ve heard of Pink Floyd, but what about “Stink Floyd”? Well, the unique and smelly corpse plant is set to bloom at Reiman Gardens in Ames in mid-May.
Here’s what to know about the plant and how you can catch a glimpse (or a smell).
What is ‘Stink Floyd’ at Reiman Gardens?
An Amorphophallus titanum plant nicknamed “Stink Floyd,” will bloom at Reiman Gardens in May 2025.
“Stink Floyd,” is a nickname for the Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a corpse plant, at Reiman Gardens on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.
When the large plant flowers and blooms, a powerful odor that resembles rotting flesh (yes, you read that right) is emitted. This is an evolutionary strategy to attract pollinators, Reiman Gardens said in a news release.
You can find updated photos of the corpse plant on Reiman Gardens’ Facebook, where a recent post shows “Stink Floyd,” measuring to nearly 5 feet tall, growing a quick 4 inches per day.
When will the corpse plant at Reiman Gardens bloom?
The stinky bloom is expected sometime between May 10 and May 14, but the plant has an unpredictable nature.
Guests are encouraged to follow Reiman Gardens on social media for live updates.
When can you visit Reiman Gardens?
You can also see the plant daily with price of admission ($12 for general, $11 for 65+, $6 for ages 2-12), it just won’t smell yet.
Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd. in Ames, will offer extended hours during the plant’s bloom from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., as it will open for less than 24 hours, and not happen again for seven to 10 years.
When was the last corpse flower bloom near Des Moines?
The Des Moines Botanical Garden also had a corpse flower bloom, back in July 2017. However, this one was only 2 feet tall.
The Botanical Garden previously told the Register that the flower only grows in the wild in Sumatra, Indonesia. It was brought to Iowa from Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif., in 2013 by Whitney Bouma, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s chief program officer.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Reiman Gardens: When to see the corpse plant, ‘Stink Floyd’ bloom