Corpse flowers (Amorphophallus titanum) bloom very infrequently and unpredictably. Typically, they take about 7 to 10 years to produce their first bloom. After that initial flowering, some plants may bloom every 2 to 3 years, but this is not consistent for all specimens
. The bloom itself is short-lived, usually lasting only 24 to 48 hours, sometimes up to 3 days
. The plant only blooms when it has accumulated enough energy in its large underground corm, so the timing between blooms can vary widely-from a few years to over a decade
. In summary:
- First bloom: typically after 7 to 10 years of growth
- Subsequent blooms: often every 2 to 3 years but can be unpredictable
- Bloom duration: about 1 to 3 days
- Bloom timing depends on energy stored in the corm and environmental conditions
