corpse flower

noun

variants or less commonly corpse plant

: a tropical perennial herb (Amorphophallus titanum) of the arum family that is native to Sumatra and produces a tall, erect, yellowish-white spadix partly enclosed by a showy, white-spotted, green spathe which opens during bloom to reveal a reddish-purple interior and emit an odor of rotting flesh

Part of the reason the corpse flower is drawing such big crowds is because it rarely blooms. It is also one of the biggest, stinkiest plants on the planet …

—Lara Sorokanich

called also titan arum

Examples of corpse flower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After last year’s incredible Washington D.C. corpse flower showing—where two of these rare flowers bloomed almost at the same time—gardeners and tourists alike have been waiting with bated breath to see when (and where) the next corpse flower blossoms will appear in 2025. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2025

Of course, the public can also support the corpse flower by visiting Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. —Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 19 June 2025

Once a corpse flower blooms, the flower can stay open for as little as a single day. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2025

San Diego Botanic Garden Followers: 73.8K Most engaged-with post overall: This reel showing the bloom of the corpse flower on Halloween night generated a 435% engagement rate. —Maxwell Millington, Axios, 20 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for corpse flower

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower