Smellanie the corpse flower has not bloomed yet! Tickets are still required to gain entry to the Wildlife Photography exhibition in the conservatory.
Visitors braving the smelly aroma in a corpse flower in 2023. Photo: Alexandra Drewniak
Renowned for its towering size, pungent aroma and fleeting appearance, the endangered plant is expected to draw thousands of visitors keen to experience this rare botanical phenomenon.
Also known as the Titan Arum and Amorphophallus titanum, the Sumatran plant releases a distinctive scent often likened to rotting flesh.
The powerful odour peaks within the first 24 hours of flowering as the plant attracts pollinators, lasting for up to 48 hours. After this brief display, the striking yellow spadix begins to collapse.
Horticultural Curator at the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia (BGSH), Matt Coulter, said the bloom represents a significant milestone in a plant conservation journey that began two decades ago.
“We received a donation of three seeds in 2006, and from that small starting point have grown a collection of around 250 Titan Arum plants,” Mr Coulter said.
“Approximately 100 have been propagated from leaf cuttings and 150 through cross-pollination, in addition to the original three plants. This bloom has emerged from a tuber generated by one of those original seeds and marks the second time this particular plant has flowered, following its last bloom in 2021.”
Currently standing at approximately 1.5 metres tall, and affectionately named by staff as Smellanie, the bloom highlights the importance of long-term plant conservation efforts. Titan Arums are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 1,000 plants remaining in the wild.
Habitat loss from deforestation for palm oil plantations, illegal logging, theft and climate change continues to threaten the species, making the ex-situ conservation role of botanic gardens increasingly critical.
BGSH Director Michael Harvey said plant conservation is central to the organisation’s mission.
“BGSH works closely with botanic gardens and conservation-focused institutions across Australia and internationally to protect both Australian and exotic plant species,” Mr Harvey said.
“In the case of the Titan Arum, our horticultural experts have shared tubers, DNA samples, propagation techniques and research to help safeguard this remarkable species.”
“The growth of this collection, and the enjoyment it brings to the public, is a testament to the skill, dedication and expertise of our team.”
How do I find out more?
Updates on the bloom days will be shared on our social media channels:
Explore more about the corpse flower here.
See our Frequently Asked Questions below to plan your visit, or download the FAQ here:
The Titan Arum is on display in the Bicentennial Conservatory (B5 on the map) in Adelaide Botanic Garden.
This is also the location of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Until Smellanie blooms, visitors are required to purchase a ticket to enter the conservatory, which will be open from 10am - 4pm daily.
When the corpse flower blooms, visitors will need to enter via the northern entrance of the Bicentennial Conservatory.
From 8am –5pm, join the queue, near the Friends’ Gate off Plane Tree Drive. This queue will be inside the Garden, under the shade of trees.
After 5pm, join the queue near the Conservatory Gate off Plane Tree Drive. This queue will be outside of the Garden, under the shade of trees.
Entry to the Conservatory itself will be via the northern entrance, closest to Plane Tree Drive.
Look out for staff and volunteers in uniform who will guide and answer visitor questions.
The Titan Arum in Adelaide Botanic Garden looks likely to bloom around mid-January 2026.
However, this is a natural process that can vary from plant to plant and be affected by things like the temperature, so we can never be certain of the bloom date, much like the birth of a baby!
There are telltale signs around lunchtime that a flower will bloom that evening, and as soon as we know, we will share this information publicly.
The bloom only lasts for 24-48 hours, with the smell the strongest on the first night. The flower will start to wilt and lose all smell by 48 hours.
Follow our social media channels for the latest news:
Day 1
Approximately 4pm – midnight. This is the evening when it will smell strongest and open fully.
Please note that the rest of the garden will close at 6.30pm, with only the Conservatory open for the corpse flower viewing after this time.
From 5pm, entry and exit to the garden will be via the Conservatory Gate on Plane Tree Drive only.
Day 2
8am – midnight. By the end of the evening, the flower will have mostly lost its smell.
Please note that the rest of the garden will close at 6.30pm, with only the conservatory open for the corpse flower viewing after this time.
From 5.00pm, entry and exit to the garden will be via the Conservatory Gate on Plane Tree Drive only.
Day 3 onwards
10am – 4pm. The flower will start to wilt and have no smell left. Paid entry to the Bicentennial Conservatory for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, will resume.
Entry to Adelaide Botanic Garden is free, and it is free to see the Corpse Flower.
To help support the care of this remarkable plant and the ongoing conservation work of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, we invite visitors to make a voluntary donation upon entry.
A suggested donation of $5 or $10 is greatly appreciated, with the option to give more if you wish.
Every contribution helps us continue to conserve the Titan Arum, as well as many other plants, including native Australian plants through our work at the SA Seed Conservation Centre, and the State Herbarium.
Tap and go machines will be available in the Conservatory, and are dotted throughout the garden. Cash donations will also be welcomed.
If you like, you can donate online:
There are six entrances to the Garden. These entrances are open daily from 7.15am - 6.30pm.
The queue for the corpse flower viewing will be via the Friends' Gate (before 5pm) or Conservatory Gate (after 5pm), both of which are on Plane Tree Drive. Corpse flower viewing map.
Please note that the only exit after 6.30pm will be from the Conservatory Gate, Plane Tree Drive.
View our standard garden map here.
Tram and bus stops are 150m from the Main Gate on North Terrace, Adelaide, noting these are the opposite side of the Garden to the corpse flower.
Please note that the tram to the Botanic Gardens stop will not be running on Saturday 17 January, but there will be replacement buses.
There is ticketed parking available along Plane Tree Drive, but this will get very busy. Tickets are required up to 10pm.
Alternative parking is available along Hackney Road and in Adelaide’s East End.
Yes, there are toilets located throughout the garden.
After 6.30pm, the only toilets open will be in the Classgrounds (A4 on the map).
These have accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility.
Yes, you can bring food and drink into the Garden, but it cannot be consumed inside the Bicentennial Conservatory where the corpse flower is.
BYO alcohol is not permitted.
During regular opening hours food and drink will be available to purchase from Evergreen Café on the Schomburgk Pavilion in the centre of the Garden and at Evergreen To Go, located at the Friends Gate and start of the Corpse Flower queue.
You can also have a meal, or coffee and cake at Botanic Lodge.
There are water fountains in the garden, including outside the toilet block alongside the queue.
View our Accessibility Guide for Adelaide Botanic Garden here.
While queuing, if you require special assistance, please alert a member of staff.
Here is some additional information about this event specifically:
Seating
There will be limited seating available along the queue.
You are welcome to bring a fold up stool or camping chair to rest on in the queue if you need to.
Inside the Conservatory
The Bicentennial Conservatory contains a paved pathway at ground level and includes a low gradient sloped board walk to the upper level and low gradient sloped paved path on the ground level. These walkways will take you on a trail that is about 200m in length, and both walkways have full wheelchair access.
The queue to experience the Corpse Flower will take you on both of these pathways.
As this is a Rainforest environment, please be aware that there may be light ‘rain’ or moisture in the air from the misters. This can cause the pathways to be wet, and sometimes slippery.
If you have another inquiry about accessibility needs, please contact us at botanic.exhibitions@sa.gov.au
In previous years, queues have formed quickly to view the plant. If you enter the queue, you may need to wait for up to 3 hours during the busiest period before you can view the plant.
Up to 5pm, we will invite people to join the queue along the pathway through the Classgrounds area, adjacent to Plane Tree Drive (B3-B4 on the map). Entry will be via the Friends’ Gate. This pathway is shaded by trees and there should only be limited times when people queue in the sun.
Between 5pm – 10pm, we will ask people to queue outside the Garden along Plane Tree Drive, to enter via Conservatory Gate.
We will close the queues 10pm to ensure everyone in the queue can see it before the corpse flower viewing ends at midnight.
Please note that the rest of Adelaide Botanic Garden will close at 6.30pm to the public, unless you have a Gather in the Garden ticket, which ends at 9pm.
We recommend you wear and bring sunscreen and a hat.
Bring plenty of water to drink, especially if it is hot.
Dress for the weather, noting the garden can get cooler in the evening.
Please be prepared that you will likely need to queue for an hour or more. In the past, people have queued for up to 3 hours. The queues are in the shade within the beautiful garden.
Along the queue, there are toilets and a water fountain.
There will be children’s activities as families queue from 10am - 3.30pm.
You will enter the lush rainforest filled conservatory in a group of around 30 at a time, when you will hear from one of our staff about the Corpse Flower and our conservation work in a short session.
You will queue along the top boardwalk, where you will have a view of the corpse flower from above, and are surrounded by rainforest trees.
You will then walk onto the lower pathway where you will be able to view the corpse flower up close, have a sniff and have your photo taken with it.
Throughout the Conservatory, we have the wonderful Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition on, which you will be able to view for free on the two bloom days.
Want to get a snap of you with the corpse flower? Of course! To help keep the queue moving, our friendly and experienced volunteer will take a snap of you on your phone or camera with the plant.
Please be mindful of the queue and other visitors, and spend only a short time admiring and smelling the plant.
Please note that a live stream is operating through the event.
Photography and videography may be taken by the Garden’s team for use on their social media pages or website. There may also be media outlets taking photos and videos too.
We will contact any ticket holders on bloom days to offer a refund of your Wildlife Photographer of the Year ticket, or to reschedule your booking for a different day. You are still welcome to experience the Corpse Flower and photography exhibition for free on the two bloom days, but will need to join the queue for the Corpse Flower to do so.
Please note that there is a chance that a corpse flower (Titan Arum) will bloom on the weekend of Friday 16 - Saturday 17 January. If this happens, the popular bloom will draw large crowds to view the infamously smelly plant which is in the Bicentennial Conservatory, where the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is on.
Due to the expected high volume of visitors to see the corpse flower on the nights that it blooms, we are unfortunately not able to offer Gather in the Garden ticket holders the standard entry to view the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
If you purchase a ticket for Gather in the Garden on Friday 16 or Saturday 17 January, we offer you a complimentary ticket to view the photography exhibition during the day at another time. Alternatively, we can offer a ticket swap to Friday 23 or Saturday 24 January. Please email us at botanicexhibitions@sa.gov.au no later than Wednesday 21 January if you wish to arrange this.
Gather in the Garden ticket holders will be able to join the queue to view the corpse flower after the event. The queues will be open until 10pm, with the corpse flower viewing finishing at midnight. Queues will be via Plane Tree Drive. Please visit our website to find out more.
Please speak to one of our friendly staff who will scan your ticket and direct you where to go to enter Gather in the Garden.
If you would like to purchase a Gather in the Garden ticket on the evening, you will be able to do so online, or through our friendly staff members, providing we haven’t sold out.
