TORONTO – At 90 inches in height, the world’s tallest bell-shaped flower is set to bloom for the first time ever on Canadian soil this week.
Nestled inside the Floral Showhouse in Niagara Falls, the Amorphophallus titanum, or Titan Arum flower is rare both in its shape and size.
At 2.28 meters high and counting, staff at the Niagara Parks can hardly contain their excitement.
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The two dormant corms (bulb like structures) were donated to Niagara Parks Commission by Louis M. Ricciardiello of Gilford, New Hampshire. At the time when they were donated, each corm weighed 150 pounds.
The flower has been growing at a rate of almost an inch a day since it was planted in December.
The Titan Arum is the first to be blooming in Canada and the 151st in the world.
The flower is also known for its distinctive smell. The spadix emanates a powerful smell that attracts insects and beetles to the bulb in order to pollinate the flower.
The plants are currently on display at the Floral Showhouse. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Showhouse is located just south of the Horseshoe Falls, at 7145 Niagara Parkway.
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