** Please note that visitors to the Garden are not able to view New Reekie in person as the Glasshouses are currently closed as part of Edinburgh Biomes, the Garden’s major restoration and construction project.

The extraordinary Amorphophallus titanum

Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum) is famously known for its size, smell, and the relative rarity of its bloom.

Often called the 'corpse flower' in honour of its extraordinary stench during flowering, our sensational plant is affectionately called 'New Reekie' (in Scotland Edinburgh is known as 'Auld Reekie').

A first for Scotland

The spectacular flowering of New Reekie at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2015 was a first for Scotland and marked the culmination of years of expert care by the Garden's horticulturists to successfully replicate the conditions this endangered plant would experience in its native West Sumatra rain forest.

Bloom alert

Now in 2022, New Reekie continues to surprise. At 20 years old, it is has flowered for the fourth time.

Sadly, visitors are not able to share New Reekie's glorious bloom and smell this year as the Glasshouses are currently being renovated for the Edinburgh Biomes project. However, watch our timelapse film of the spectacular blooming below or follow New Reekie's story on Twitter. 

We also have at least 20 other specimens of titan arum  growing in the research Glasshouses, so when vistors return to the Glasshouses, they will be able to enjoy this amazing species in person again. And perhaps New Reekie will still be going!

Watch the spectacular blooming of New Reekie, 2022