Rare Corpse Flower ‘Chanel’ Set to Bloom This Week in San Francisco; Watch It Live!
San Francisco is on bloom watch this week as the Conservatory of Flowers prepares for a rare sight. Chanel, their corpse flower, is expected to open any day now. This plant only blooms once every few years and stays open for just one to two days.
When it blooms, Chanel gives off a strong smell often compared to rotting meat. This scent draws in carrion insects like flies and beetles, which then help pollinate the plant. To push the smell even farther, the flower heats up during the process.
You can visit Chanel at the Conservatory’s West Gallery inside Golden Gate Park. The exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on Wednesdays. San Francisco residents can enter for free, while others need a ticket priced at about $15.75.
- Scientific name: Amorphophallus titanum
- Grows up to 10 feet tall
- Odor includes compounds found in decaying fish and sweaty feet
- Native to Sumatra’s rainforests
- Listed as endangered
Dr. Zenaida Sengo, Director of Living Collections and Horticulture, said: “Our corpse flower has been growing rapidly and we’re thrilled to share this event with the public.”
To watch from home, you can view Chanel on a livestream that’s been running since July 1 on the Gardens of Golden Gate Park’s YouTube channel. As the bloom nears, expect large crowds and plenty of photos of a plant that only shows itself every few years.
More…
- https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/corpse-flower-san-fancisco-livestream-20421192.php
- https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/07/03/corpse-flower-bloom-san-francisco-conservatory-flowers
- https://gggp.org/corpseflower/
- https://sfstandard.com/2025/07/02/a-corpse-flower-will-soon-rise-again-at-the-conservatory-of-flowers/
- https://secretsanfrancisco.com/corpse-flower-chanel-conservatory-flowers-san-francisco/
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