Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is thrilled to announce that after days of anticipation, their corpse flower Elenore officially began blooming on May 10, 2026. The public is encouraged to visit soon, as the bloom’s peak and powerful odor is expected to fade quickly. Elenore’s bloom is anticipated to last for a short time period of only 24 to 48 hours.
Affectionately named “Elenore,” this corpse flower is a baby of “Lenore” that bloomed in 2013. It grew as an offset of the underground corm and was removed from the mother plant in 2017. Shangri La Gardens received Lenore from Tindara Orchids in September 2011.
“This is an incredible moment for our team at Shangri La Gardens. We’ve tracked Elenore’s growth since early April, and we are thrilled for this bloom to finally take place after weeks of anticipation,” said Jennifer Buckner, director of horticultural operations at Shangri La Gardens. “This is such a rare opportunity that we are thrilled to share with our community. We can’t wait for our guests to come see–and smell–such an unusual and special bloom.”
Corpse flowers (Amorphophallus titanum) are known for being the largest, unbranched inflorescence in the world. These plants belong to the Aroid Family and can reach a height of 10 feet or more, growing rapidly in warm, humid conditions. Because of the amount of energy that the plant needs to form the flower, it is incredibly rare for a bloom to occur. A bloom lasts only 24 to 48 hours roughly every 10 years. True to its name, the flower carries a powerful odor, often compared to decomposing matter. This scent serves a significant purpose by attracting pollinators like carrion beetles and flies.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed sharing Elenore with our community and plant enthusiasts across the region as we patiently awaited her bloom. Whether you watched Elenore on our livestream or came to see Elenore at the Garden, we appreciate your curiosity and appreciation of this extraordinary plant,” said Angie Mason, executive director of Shangri La Gardens. “These bloom events are rare and short-lived, so we encourage our guests to visit soon to experience Elenore’s fascinating bloom up close.”
Native to Sumatra, an island of Indonesia, corpse flowers are found in tropical lowland forests near rivers. The corpse flower is on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) list because there are estimated to be less than 1,000 individuals in the wild. This plant is endangered and endemic to the rainforest in Sumatra.
The corpse flower is currently on view in the Classroom Greenhouse at Shangri La Gardens. Admission is free of charge. Extended Garden hours will be offered to the public on Monday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the last entry at 6:30 p.m. The back Garden will close at 6:30 p.m. during these extended hours.
Shangri La Gardens will provide updates on their social media channels while Elenore is in bloom. A real-time bloom camera is providing coverage of the corpse flower bloom via shangrilagardens.org/corpse-flower. The public is encouraged to check Shangri La Gardens’ social media and website for information regarding the bloom and hours of operation prior to planning their visit.
Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center is located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas. For more information, please visit shangrilagardens.org.
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