WASHINGTON — There’s not a moment to spare: Fans of the curious and unusual have less than 8 hours to catch a whiff of the blooming corpse flower at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
The flower began to open Tuesday morning and will release its malodorous stench for roughly 6 to 8 hours. The flower itself will stay open for the next 24 to 48 hours.
The garden will stay open until 11 p.m. Tuesday and will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
More than 130,000 people came to see the plant the last time a corpse flower bloomed at the garden in 2013. This particular plant is 6 years old, according to the garden.
In addition to its putrid smell, which has been compared to rotting flesh, the plant gives off heat, which allows the smell to travel further. Both the heat and the smell attract pollinators.
Can’t make it in person? Check out a live stream of the bloom and all of its glorious 88 inches.
Find information about visiting the Botanic Garden here.
