28 July 2024

For two days only this week, a popular star on the capital’s circuit is taking centre stage to entertain and amaze its audiences. A botanical showstopper for nearly a decade, Amorphophallus titanum is preparing to welcome its public to the currently closed Glasshouses of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, by bursting into bloom for a remarkable fifth time.

The dramatic event is expected to occur in the next few days and, such is the popularity of the statuesque tropical plant, the decision has been taken to admit visitors, despite the public Glasshouses being closed during the multimillion-pound Edinburgh Biomes restoration project. However, as the celebrity popularly known as New Reekie dictates when it will be ready to perform, anyone hoping to attend the event should keep a close eye on the Botanics’ social media and website. While access to the Glasshouses will be free of charge, the event must be ticketed to set times to avoid unnecessary queues.

Endangered in its native West Sumatra, the Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum) is famously known for its size, smell, and the relative rarity of its bloom. Often called the corpse flower, it generally blooms at night and emits a distinctive odour to attract the attention of carrion insects to achieve its pollination.

When this spectacular specimen bloomed at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2015, it was a first for Scotland. It also paid testament to the expert care of dedicated conservation horticulturists who succeeded in replicating the natural habitat conditions of a rain forest in an area of the northern hemisphere prone to long winters and short summers. On June 27 that year, its spadix reached a height of 2.67m.

The remarkable plant has since bloomed another three times and, during its comparatively long lifetime, has provided Edinburgh horticulturists and plant scientists with unprecedented opportunity to study its behaviour and provide contributory data to ensure the species now has some protection by being officially recognised as “Endangered” in the wild.

Sadie Barber, Research Collections Manager, explained: “The same plant flowering five times is a rare thing, and is likely a result of us holding what was potentially the world’s largest ever corm. This fifth bloom of our 22-year-old Amorphophallus titanum brings the story of a magnificent plant to the start of an exciting new chapter. There is still so much to learn about the biology and behaviour of this enigmatic species, to be the guardians of an amazing specimen and its progeny, raised over the years, is to have the ongoing opportunity to learn from them.

“While it is hard not being able to allow the public in to enjoy regular access to the Glasshouses during the renovations, we are really excited to be sharing this incredible sight, it is a measure of the conservation activity continuing behind closed doors.”

ENDS

For further information, interviews or images, please respond to this email or contact Shauna Hay on 07824 529 028, Suzie Huggins on 07385 491 460 or Sandra Donnelly on 07312 128 637

EDITOR’S NOTES

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action around the world. In Scotland its four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Logan and Dawyck attract around a million visitors each year. It operates as a Non-Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Government. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Ministers. Its mission is “To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants”.