Causing a stink: Manitoba greenhouse garnering attention for smelly flower

A corpse lily, known for its unique smell, is blooming at a Winnipeg garden centre.

A rare flower in bloom at a Manitoba greenhouse is attracting attention for its powerful stink.

Earlier in the week, Sage Garden Greenhouses, located just south of Winnipeg, announced its corpse lily has revealed its full, dark aroma on Tuesday.

The plant is known for giving off a piercing aroma that reminds many of rotting flesh. The reason for the stench has to do with attracting decomposing beetles to pollinate the plant.

“It’s been in bloom since Tuesday of this week,” said Sage Garden Greenhouses founder Dave Hanson.

“It’s been fully open, and it has been smelling incredibly pungent, especially the first day when it opened; it was overwhelming.”

Hanson described the plant as a conversation starter, adding that it’s exciting to see all that nature has to offer.

“The majority of plants that are aromatic like that tend to smell good from a human perspective,” he said.

“But there’s definitely more than just this plant that smells terrible.”

Hanson said that while the smell may not last much longer, there are several baby bulbs that have formed in the pot. He added the greenhouse will help to grow them over the coming year and hopes they’ll be available for sale next spring.