Corpse Flower on Show | Adelaide Botanic Garden | Jan 2026

Smellanie the Corpse Flower is flowering at Adelaide Botanic Garden.

Adelaide Botanic Garden is home to one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles, the bloom of the infamous Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum).

Renowned for its towering size, pungent aroma and fleeting appearance, the endangered plant is expected to draw thousands of visitors keen to experience this rare botanical phenomenon.

Also known as the Titan Arum, the Sumatran plant releases a distinctive scent often likened to rotting flesh. The powerful odour peaks within the first 24 hours of flowering as the plant attracts pollinators, lasting up to 48 hours. After this brief display, the striking yellow spadix begins to collapse.

Horticultural Curator at the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia (BGSH), Matt Coulter, said the bloom represents a significant milestone in a plant conservation journey that began two decades ago.

“We received a donation of three seeds in 2006, and from that small starting point have grown a collection of around 250 Titan Arum plants,” Mr Coulter said.

“Approximately 100 have been propagated from leaf cuttings and 150 through cross-pollination, in addition to the original three plants. This bloom has emerged from a tuber generated by one of those original seeds and marks the second time this particular plant has flowered, following its last bloom in 2021.”

Currently standing at approximately 1.5 metres tall, and affectionately named by staff as Smellanie, the bloom highlights the importance of long-term plant conservation efforts. Titan Arums are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 1,000 plants remaining in the wild.

Habitat loss from deforestation for palm oil plantations, illegal logging, theft and climate change continues to threaten the species, making the ex-situ conservation role of botanic gardens increasingly critical.

Things to consider if you’re planning on visiting Smellanie at the Adelaide Botanic Garden:

• Parking: our team found plenty of parks in the Wilson Carpark on Frome Road near Botanic High School (as of Friday 23 January) and no parks on Plane Tree Drive. 
• Our team spotted an ice cream seller right before the entrance.
• Be prepared for very long queues – up to 3 hours.
• It’s going to be hot – go prepared with plenty of hydrating drinks.

When will Smellanie bloom and when can it be seen?

Smellanie is blooming now as of Friday 23 January 2026. Visitors can see Smellanie on display at the Adelaide Botanic Garden for two days before the bloom event naturally comes to an end.

• Friday 23 January: 7.30pm – midnight
• Saturday 24 January: 7.30am – midday, and 7pm – midnight. Closed from 12pm midday – 7pm due to extreme heat.

Visitors are asked to prepare for queues of up to 3 hours, and should be aware that the queue will close at 10pm on both nights.

Where is it on display?

It is in the Bicentennial Conservatory in Adelaide Botanic Garden. Visitors should enter via the Friends’ Gate on Plane Tree Drive and come prepared for queues and summer conditions. 

How much will it cost to see it?

On the first and second bloom day, entry to the conservatory will be free. However, a suggested donation of $5 or $10 per adult helps support ongoing conservation work, and makes experiences like this possible.

Please note that the stunning Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is currently on display inside this conservatory. Wildlife Photographer is a ticketed event, but they recognise the very high community interest in the Titan Arum so entry to the conservatory will be free from the beginning of the bloom event and the entire second day of the bloom.

For FAQ’s and more information to plan your visit, or learn about the Corpse Flower head to www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au

CHECK FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE

View the 2016 timelapse of the Titan Arum blooms in Adelaide Botanic Garden below:

For more information and all enquiries please visit the Botanic Gardens of SA website.

What:  Corpse Flower on Show

When: January 2026 – See updates here

Where:  Bicentennial Conservatory | Adelaide Botanic Garden | North Terrace, Adelaide

Who: Everyone

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: Adelaide Botanic Garden Facebook, Environment SA Good Living website 

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