The Amorphophallus titanum, or “corpse flower,” is the world’s largest hothouse known for its putrid smell, and it was right under students’ noses at Grand Valley State University. The flower’s key traits are its size and smell, which is so foul that GVSU staff nicknamed it “The Beast.”
The GVSU Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse is one of the few greenhouses to house the plant species. Originally native to Southeast Asia, the corpse flower is listed as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 remaining in the wild.
The journey of GVSU’s corpse flower began when Tim Strickler, a biomedical studies professor at GVSU, donated the flower in 2015.
Previously, Strickler was introduced to another foul-smelling plant, Amorphophallus konjacs (voodoo lilies), by his mother in the late 1990s when she gave him bulbs.
“That was my introduction to the world of voodoo lilies,” Strickler said. “Through them, I developed connections to other voodoo lily lovers, like Todd Carlson, a retired GVSU biochemist who did research with them in the past, and another GVSU faculty member, retired biologist Paul Huizenga. Knowing that I was into voodoo lilies, it was Paul who sent me my first article about (corpse flowers), one of which was blooming at UCLA.”
That’s when Strickler’s dreams of growing a corpse flower began.
After researching online, Strickler found a bulb for sale at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina for $60. He originally grew it at his home in the summer of 2014, but wondered how he would manage to take care of it once it grew bigger. That fall, he donated it to the old biology greenhouse in Padnos Hall. In spring of 2015, all of the University’s plants were moved to the new and current Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse facility.
It was first seen blooming by greenhouse staff in 2022. While the initial bloom took a seven year period, in June 2024, the flower was showing signs of fluorescence again. It can take between two and seven years for the plant to bloom after its initial seven year period.
“I was shocked that our corpse flower bloomed again so quickly,” Greenhouse Supervisor Christina Hispshier said. “You’re never quite sure when you are going to get another bloom until that outer sheath opens up.”
The Department of Biology wanted to show off the flower to students, but since most people were off campus during summer, they were challenged to think of a creative way to display the plant. They wanted to accommodate a large crowd’s ability to experience the opening of the corpse flower’s petals.
The corpse flower only blooms for up to two days before it withers, so it was crucial to find a showroom for the flower in a timely manner. Frederik Meijer Gardens was willing to take on the task of temporarily exhibiting the corpse flower in their Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse. The event drew in hundreds of spectators who lined up to let their senses experience a moment in the garden.
Currently, “The Beast” has since retreated its petals and will continue to be held in the Meijer Gardens greenhouse until it’s no longer standing upright. From there, it will be returned to GVSU in the hands of its caretakers.
Though it’s already drummed up quite a stink, both in the greenhouse and for local plant enthusiasts, GVSU’s caretakers of “The Beast” already look forward to seeing more blooms over the rest of its 40-year life expectancy.
