The rare corpse flower known as Alice is blooming at the Chicago Botanic Garden, unleashing her infamous stench and drawing fascinated crowds. With a bloom that mimics the scent of rotting flesh, Alice showcases nature’s strangest strategies for survival and pollination. A fleeting but unforgettable botanical spectacle!

Alice the Amorphophallus Draws Noses and Crowds at the Chicago Botanic Garden

A botanical superstar is making headlines in Chicago, and she's not your average garden beauty. Alice the Amorphophallus, a rare corpse flower, is in full bloom at the Chicago Botanic Garden — and she’s smelling up the place in spectacular fashion.

Known scientifically as Amorphophallus titanum, the corpse flower is famous for its enormous size, exotic appearance, and its overwhelmingly foul odor, which smells eerily like rotting flesh. This putrid perfume isn’t an accident — it’s part of the flower’s strategy to attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies in its native Sumatran rainforest.

Despite the stench, Alice has captivated visitors and nature lovers alike. These blooms are incredibly rare, often occurring only once every several years, and they last just 24 to 36 hours. The garden staff even set up a live stream for flower fans who want to experience Alice's moment from afar — without braving the odor.

“It's amazing how something so offensive can be so fascinating,” said one attendee, holding their nose and snapping pictures.

Corpse flower blooms are a marvel of botany, showcasing the wonders of plant reproduction, adaptation, and the curious ways life evolves. For the Chicago Botanic Garden, Alice's bloom is also an educational moment, sparking interest in conservation, biodiversity, and the importance of protecting threatened plant species.

So if you’re in the area and feel brave enough to meet Alice — pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a clothespin for your nose).