Visitor InformationAmorphophallus titanum - Corpse Flower
Corpse Flower Viewing
- The corpse flower is located on the third floor greenhouse of the College’s Alfred Nobel Hall of Science.
- Visitors may visit the Nobel Hall of Science and view the corpse flower through the greenhouse windows everyday from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- The greenhouse is located on the third floor of the Nobel Hall of Science
- Nobel Hall is #16 on this map, which also indicates parking locations. All lots are open in the summer for visitor parking.
- Visitors will be able to smell the corpse flower from the hall outside the greenhouse.
- Visitors will not be able to go into the greenhouse.
- There is no cost to visit.
What’s the stink about?
The corpse flower, also known to botanists as Amorphophallus titanum, is a rare flowering plant that is only found naturally in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. With the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, the corpse flower’s name comes from the repulsive scent it emits during the hours after it blooms.
Corpse flowers at Gustavus
The oldest corpse flower at Gustavus Adolphus College is affectionately known as “Perry”. When Perry produced an inflorescence in May of 2007, more than 7,000 people came to see the rare plant, which was the first of its kind to bloom in the state of Minnesota. It has since flowered again (Perry II) in July 2010, (Perry III) in October 2013, and (Perry IV) in June 2016. Perry came to the College when Professor of Chemistry Brian O’Brien received 20 seeds in 1993 from a San Francisco physician named James Symon. After years of careful cultivation, the plant finally bloomed for the first time in 2007.
Gemini I and Gemini II are from that same set of 20 seeds that Dr. O'Brien received in 1993. Both flowered in June 2024.
Gustavus also has a corpse flower called Perrita that has not bloomed and another unnamed plant that has recently split.
All corpse flowers at Gustavus are from that same set of 20 seeds.
View the webcam
For those who cannot make the trip down to St. Peter, the College has set up a live webcam which can be accessed by going online to https://gustavus.edu/perry.