The SC Greenhouse has now returned to summer hours and is no longer open to the public. It is open intermittently during care.
News
Corpse Flower to Bloom at Southwestern College
June 05, 2026
UPDATE: "JINX" HAS BLOOMED!
The corpse flower is near the end of the bloom cycle, so it has been decided that the SC Greenhouse will NOT be open Tuesday, June 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Greenhouse open?
Can we go in and see the flower?
During open hours, yes, you may step in to see the flower and take photos — you may also view part of the orchid collection that is housed in the neighboring greenhouses.
When is it expected to bloom?
IT HAS BLOOMED! Topping out at just over 6' tall, it began opening mid-day on Sunday, June 14. For reference, the plant emerged from its corm on May 15, 2026. The bloom of a corpse flower is a natural process, so it is difficult to predict with certainty, but the rapid growth of the spadix of (5"-6" a day), and the spathe is beginning to unfurl at the top are indications. It is also difficult to predict the duration of the bloom, but it typically lasts 24-48 hours. View the livestream below to check the progress of the plant.
How old is this particular corpse flower?
Southwestern College acquired a corpse flower in 2001. So we have had a Titan Arum on campus for more than 25 years. Max and Bryon have cultivated two Titan Arum's from one mother corm (which previously bloomed in 2020). This is the first bloom for "Jinx." The Jinx corm weighs just over 35lbs.
Where is the Greenhouse?
The SC Greenhouse is located north of the Beech Science Center on the north side of campus. It is easily accessed from College Street. The plant has been moved to a smaller auxiliary greenhouse in the complex to allow more room for visitors (we have had 200-300 each day pre-bloom). The auxiliary greenhouse is also accessed by a ramp, making it easier for those with limited mobility. There is ample parking nearby. When visiting, guests are welcome to view the orchid collections in the main greenhouses where the Titan Arum is normally kept. [View Campus Map & Directions here.]
Updates are posted regularly to the Greenhouse voicemail: (620) 229-6285
External News Stories
Press Release
Max Thompson, professor of biology and greenhouse supervisor at Southwestern College, has announced that a rare event is going to occur inside the Southwestern College greenhouse. An Amorphophallus titanium, known as the titan arum or corpse flower, will bloom sometime next week, but likely by Wednesday, June 10.
According to Thompson, only three to four bloom each year in the United States and it is the second largest flower on the planet. The last time the flower bloomed at Southwestern was in July of 2020.
The Southwestern College Greenhouse will be open on Wednesday, June 10, from 9 a.m., to 4 p.m. for guests to view, and smell, this unique specimen. The greenhouse is located on the north side of campus, north of the Beech Science Center and Mossman Hall. Visitors can also view the flower through the glass door to the greenhouse at any time.
Southwestern has a web camera set up and is streaming video of the event. To watch, go to the Southwestern College YouTube channel. The college will also post updates on its Facebook page about the flower's progress.
According to Thompson, the corpse flower is native to Western Sumatra in Indonesia. This plant gets its name from the odor that emanates from its bloom. The scent is described as the smell of a dead mammal. The odor attracts blowflies and carrion beetles, which the plant uses to pollinate itself. After the flower blooms, it will take 5 to 10 years, for the plant to gather energy to bloom again. To gather this energy, it will shoot up a single leaf that looks like a small tree (up to 15-20 feet tall) to perform photosynthesis.
“It is a rare event to bloom this plant as it takes years for the corm to get large enough to produce a flower,” Thompson says. “The Southwestern College plant came from a corm from Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Fla.”
The flower typically opens in mid-afternoon and stays open all night, emitting the foul stench to attract flies and beetles to pollinate it. The spadix or center part of the flower only lasts about 24 hours.
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