It’s here! URI corpse flower starting to make a stink

KINGSTON, R.I. – June 16, 2026 – Rhode Islanders have been waiting with bated breath.

They may want to keep holding their breath but for many horticultural enthusiasts around the state, that is entirely the point.

After welcoming a steady stream of interested visitors, the University of Rhode Island’s Horridge Conservatory has announced that its resident corpse flower (Titan Arum) is beginning to bloom. Its flowering structure will be around for just about a day before dying back, so don’t delay on visiting if you want to see it.

The University greenhouse will be open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 for those willing to brave its stinky scent. Follow URI social media for updates on hours.

Bloom scrolling

URI’s Horridge Conservatory is an important research site at URI and open to the public year-round. (URI Photos / K. Curry)

During its week of preliminary growth, Rhode Islanders proffered name ideas for URI’s resident “stinky lady,” as one follower called it. URI staffers walked over on their lunch breaks and kids came with their parents or in strollers. Even the Providence Performing Arts Center, used to a showstopper or two, commented online, “This is real performance art.”’

URI’s Ben Robbins is happy to see all the public interest in one of the greenhouse’s more unique specimens (here in its earlier leaf stage).

A running livestream enables followers to keep tabs.

Through it all, Greenhouse Manager Ben Robbins and his student assistant Daniel Meservey, a plant sciences major from Warwick, have happily answered questions about the plant — they say they are glad to see more Rhode Islanders learn about one of the more unique plants in the University’s 12,000+ collection. Robbins said he appreciates the public interest in the conservatory’s work and has enjoyed the chance to talk botany with new visitors. He hopes to see many return.

In addition to programs focused on the environment and life sciences, URI offers a number of programs the public can access year-round through its Cooperative Extension, including plant workshops, a horticulture certificate, the URI Master Gardener program, even a Gardening Hotline for home gardeners looking to ask questions about the plants in their own yard.

The carrion flower is another smelly specimen in the URI greenhouse.

To see the corpse flower, visit the URI Greenhouse (6 Greenhouse Road, Kingston); media can email benjamin.robbins@uri.edu. The Horridge Conservatory is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the corpse flower is in bloom (until 4 p.m. when it’s not). Visitor parking is available. Plant enthusiasts can also support the conservatory by making a donation through the URI Foundation. Follow @uri.plantsciences for more URI plant news.

Watch URI’s YouTube channel for our ongoing live corpse flower watch and livestream!