Don’t miss the rare bloom of Kauai’s corpse flower, Pua Pilo, at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the island’s South Shore.
- Where: National Tropical Botanical Garden, South Shore (Allerton & McBryde Gardens)
- When: Estimated full bloom on Saturday, July 19, 2025, lasting 24–48 hours.
- Tour Info: Best of Both Worlds guided tours available; visit ntbg.org for reservations.
- Follow for Updates: Instagram @allertonmcbryde
One of the world’s rarest and most remarkable blooms is set to unfold this weekend on Kauai’s South Shore. The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) has announced that its prized corpse flower—named Pua Pilo, Hawaiian for “stinky flower”—is preparing for its grand and fleeting debut. Expected to fully open on Saturday, July 19, this botanical marvel will offer visitors just a 24- to 48-hour window to witness one of nature’s most unforgettable spectacles.
Towering and otherworldly, the Amorphophallus titanum, or corpse flower, is known for both its massive size and its notorious scent—often described as a combination of rotting meat, sweaty socks, and overripe cheese. But the stench has a purpose: it mimics the smell of decaying flesh to attract carrion beetles and flesh flies, the primary pollinators of this tropical titan.
Pua Pilo has been nurtured with care for over six years in NTBG’s Conservation Nursery. The garden staff first noticed signs of the impending bloom earlier this month when the plant began forming its towering, fleshy inflorescence—a telltale sign of the rare blooming event.
Visitors can see Pua Pilo on NTBG’s Best of Both Worlds tours at their South Shore Gardens while the bloom lasts. For those who can’t make it in person, NTBG is sharing daily updates on Instagram via @allertonmcbryde, including photos and behind-the-scenes details.
But this event is more than just a visual (and olfactory) phenomenon—it’s also a special moment in global plant conservation. Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, the corpse flower—known locally as bunga bangkai—is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change have pushed this giant to the brink.
In response, NTBG is working closely with other botanical institutions to ensure the species’ survival. Using a genetic pedigree chart developed by researchers studying cultivated corpse flowers across the United States, NTBG has requested pollen from the Chicago Botanic Garden that is genetically compatible with Pua Pilo. Staff also plan to collect pollen from this bloom to share with other gardens, supporting coordinated cross-pollination efforts and the genetic diversity of future plants.
So whether you’re a passionate plant lover, a curious traveler, or just someone who appreciates the unusual, now is the time to experience the wonder—and the stench—of Pua Pilo in bloom.
PHOTOS: Allerton McBryde Instagram account.
