Amorphophallus titanum
Titan Arum
Quick Facts
Morphology
About
The Titan Arum produces the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, a towering spathe and spadix that can reach three metres and releases a carrion-like odour to lure carrion beetles and flesh flies as pollinators — earning it the nickname 'corpse flower'. Between flowering events, which can be years apart and last only 24-48 hours, the plant channels all its energy into a single, enormous umbrella-like compound leaf atop a mottled, tree-like petiole, feeding a subterranean corm that can eventually weigh over 50kg. Because it takes the better part of a decade to reach flowering size from seed and rarely blooms in cultivation, specimens of any real size are held almost exclusively by botanical institutions and a small handful of specialist growers, making seed-grown corms a genuine collector rarity rather than a typical houseplant purchase. Its scarcity, scale, and sheer botanical spectacle have made it one of the most sought-after and Instagrammed events in the aroid world whenever a cultivated specimen approaches bloom.
Native Range
Sumatra, Indonesia
Collector Popularity Review
Aroid Atlas Collector Review: Amorphophallus titanum (Titan Arum) is ranked as Ultra Rare rarity on the market. Rating is calculated based on overall cultivation difficulty, aesthetic appeal, and search popularity among active collectors.
Market Analysis
Auction History & Retail Data
Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.
No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.
Waiting on the Corpse Flower
I have never smelled it myself — few growers in this country get the chance — but every account agrees it is unmistakable, and unforgettable. What strikes me more is the patience the plant demands: a corm quietly fattening underground for years, pushing up one leaf at a time, giving nothing away until, without much warning, it decides to spend everything on a single towering bloom. *It is less a houseplant than a long correspondence.* This entry sits on the record as a placeholder — no plate has been painted for it yet — but few species better justify the wait.