Mitchell Park Domes’ uniquely famous corpse flower named “Penelope” is grabbing people’s attention again as it finally blooms. The bloom started on Friday, June 26 and will only last for a short time.
The corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) blooms for just about three days every two to three years. It releases an infamous smell, which gives the flower its name.
“Penelope” last bloomed in June 2024, so a return this soon was surprising. It must mean that “Penelope” is quite the show-off.
“Once she opens, the bloom stays for only 24 to 48 hours before it begins to fade. There’s no rescheduling a corpse flower, which is exactly what makes seeing one unforgettable,” reads the Mitchell Park Domes’ website.
“Native to the rainforests of Sumatra and endangered in the wild, the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) produces the largest unbranched flowering structure on Earth. As the bloom opens, its central spadix heats itself to between 90 and 98 degrees, releasing the powerful odor — often compared to rotting flesh — that gives the flower its name and draws pollinators in the wild.”
“The smell is most powerful in the first hours after the bloom opens — often overnight — and fades well before the bloom itself closes, so what you notice depends on when you visit. It’s a full sensory experience: towering, warm to the touch of the air around it, and impossible to forget.”
-Mitchell Park Domes
According to IUCN, logging and the conversion of the plant’s native forest habitat to oil palm plantations are the main reasons for population decline.
“To be able to care for our collection of corpse flowers is an honor as a horticulturist, and it’s especially inspiring when we get to share our work with visitors who are just as intrigued and excited to watch the bloom as we are,” said Amanda Garchow, Horticulturist, Tropical Collection, Mitchell Park Domes.
With the rarity of this flower, every time Milwaukee’s own “Penelope” blooms, there is a crowd that gathers around to observe.
“There’s nothing else like it in Milwaukee. A corpse flower bloom turns the Domes into a gathering place — families, students, longtime members and first-time visitors all in line together to see something they may never see again. That sense of shared wonder is exactly what the Domes are about,” said Christa Beall Diefenbach, CEO, Milwaukee Domes Alliance.
Currently, Mitchell Park Domes is having their “Glass Under Glass” exhibition and is worth checking out as well.
