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January 15, 2008 - The fruiting stalk has continued to grow and has now reached 47 inches (peduncle is 33 in and fruit head is 14 in). The fruits have clearly grown and those near the top are turning the dark red characteristic of mature fruit.  One fruit was opened and found to contain a large seed, resembling an olive pit.

December 1, 2007 -  The pollination was successful and the fruit are developing. The stalk (peduncle) is stretching upward and fruit are expanding. It reached 41 inches today, and we had to build a new taller case. The progression can be seen in photos. We expect fully developed fruit in several  months.  Available for viewing in the Tropical House--it's an amazing sight!

Titania has more fruit - Monday, November 26th, 2007

Titania has grown fruit - Friday, October 5th, 2 007

Titania shows its fruit - Wednesday, September 5th, 2007

Spathe and spadix collapsing - Monday, August 13th, 2007

Spadix is collapsing - Friday, August 10th, 2007

View video of Titania Here

Titania closed - 2:30 PM, Tuesday, August 7th 2007

Titania opened - Tuesday, August 7th 2007

The titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum, (CORPSE FLOWER) is one of the largest and most spectacular (for both appearance and odor) blooms in the world, and an experience you will not want to miss. These blooms are not highly predictable (it has been 2 years since we saw one here), but we are estimating the full ‘grand’ opening and smell sometime in the week after July 30. It is certainly worth visiting to watch it develop, and it will continue to amaze for about a week after it opens. The strong stench of dead flesh for which it is named is strong for only about the first 12 hrs after it fully opens.

The plant has been raised from seed here in the Garden since 1995 and this is its first bloom. Following the national tradition of naming the plant beginning with the letter “T”, we have dubbed it “Titania” after the Queen of the Fairies in William Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream.

‘Titania’ is one of about 20,000 accessions representing 307 plant families found in our collection. The approximately 12,800 different species and subspecies make it one of the largest and most diverse collections in the country. The Garden also has a large number of rare and endangered California native plants on display, many of which are part of its collection for the national Center for Plant Conservation.

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Admission : $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $2 for children ages 3 through 12. The Garden is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM year round.