This story has been updated to add new information.
The smell of rotting flesh can be unpleasant for most.
For the Indiana University Bloomington Biology Building Greenhouse, it means Wally is getting ready to say hello.
Wally is the resident Amorphophallus titanium flower, more commonly known as the corpse flower. The bloom of corpse flowers happens every few years and lasts around two days, making it a rare and spectacular event for IU’s greenhouse.
The plant grows from an underground stem that stores food known as corm. When the plant has gathered enough energy it blooms, releasing an odor that can be best described as rotting flesh.
When will the IU corpse flower bloom?
According to the greenhouse’s supervisor, John Leichter, Wally will bloom possibly Saturday, June 28, or Sunday. The leaves, also known as the spathe, will unfold overnight to display the deep crimson of the plant’s petals.
Wally first bloomed in 2016 and attracted almost 6,000 people. The next two blooms happened in 2020 and 2023. Based on this pattern, Leichter said Wally loves heat.
Two out of the three times the plant has blossomed has been in summer. The only exception is 2020, but even then, the greenhouse temperatures were in the high 80s.
Where did Wally come from?
The corpse flower is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. One of them found its home on IU’s campus in 2007.
The smelly corpse flower was donated to the greenhouse by Gred Spiechert, former director of the Hilltop Garden and Nature Center in 2007. It was named after Wallace “Wally” Scales, the greenhouse’s first manager.
Where can you see Wally?
Wally is located in Room P of the Biology Building Greenhouse, 1001 E. Third St., Room 139. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
However, because Wally is expected to bloom this weekend, Leichter said they will keep the greenhouse open for anyone wishing to meet Wally.
Special hours will be Friday, June 27, until 3:45 p.m. and again 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
They hope to see a large turnout as they always do when Wally blooms.
Community members can also keep up with Wally’s journey on the Indiana University Bloomington Biology Greenhouse Facebook page or tune into “Wallycam,” a livestream to watch from home.
Contact Deshna Venkatachalam at DVenkatachalam@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: UPDATE: Wally, IU’s very own corpse flower, is ready to bloom, smelling like rotting flesh
Reporting by Deshna Venkatachalam, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
