URI corpse flower fully blooms

KINGSTON, R.I. — The wait is finally over. After more than 13 years, the rare corpse flower at the University of Rhode Island (URI) fully blooms.

Known as “Morticia,” the titan arum began opening Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be at its fullest on Wednesday, June 17. The massive plant is famous for its powerful odor, often compared to rotting flesh, which helps attract pollinators in the wild. The bloom typically lasts just 24 to 48 hours, making it a rare event.

To give the public a chance to experience it, URI’s Horridge Conservatory will be open Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 6 Greenhouse Road in Kingston. Admission is free and open to everyone.

If you can’t make it in person, URI is also streaming the bloom live 24/7.

This is the first time the university’s corpse flower has bloomed in more than a decade, making it a unique opportunity for Rhode Islanders to see one of the world’s rarest and most unusual plants in full bloom.