The much-anticipated corpse flower season is here again, delighting plant enthusiasts and visitors alike. Following last year’s spectacular bloom of two corpse flowers in Washington D.C., attention now turns to the Missouri Botanical Garden, where the rare and fascinating corpse flower named Lucy is expected to bloom any day between May 29 and June 3, 2025.
The Unique Charm of the Corpse Flower
Corpse flowers are renowned for their enormous size, striking deep maroon color, and most notably, their powerful scent reminiscent of rotting flesh. This unusual fragrance, strongest on the first day of bloom, serves a vital ecological purpose by attracting pollinating insects from far and wide. However, the bloom itself is fleeting—lasting only about a day—making the chance to witness Lucy in full bloom a truly rare and special event.
How to Experience Lucy’s Bloom
Lucy is housed in the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron conservatory, where visitors can view the flower during regular garden hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily admission is $16, with discounted rates available for St. Louis City and county residents. Due to the flower’s brief blooming period, it’s recommended to purchase tickets in advance to secure your visit.
A Botanical Wonder Worth Seeing
Corpse flowers take approximately seven years to bloom for the first time and only re-bloom every two to three years thereafter. With fewer than 1,000 of these endangered plants left in the wild, seeing Lucy’s bloom is a rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s most extraordinary floral phenomena.
If growing a corpse flower at home isn’t in your plans, a trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden at the end of May is the perfect way to experience this botanical marvel up close.
