The Legend of Stink Floyd: Reiman Gardens' Historic Corpse Flower Bloom

Amorphophallus titanum took center stage in an unforgettable botanical debut

AMES, Iowa — It was smelly. It was rare. It was ridiculously cool.

In May 2025, Reiman Gardens hosted one of the most anticipated botanical events in its 30-year history—the blooming of Stink Floyd, its first-ever Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the corpse flower, on loan from the Bessey Greenhouse at Iowa State University. The event drew thousands of visitors, dozens of media stories, and more camera phone selfies than a rock concert. 

Nicknamed Stink Floyd in honor of its legendary scent and a Pink Floyd parody campaign, the corpse flower became a viral star. With daily growth updates, diva-like behavior, and unpredictable bloom timing, Floyd kept staff, students, and an entire social media community on the edge of their noses.

A Rare and Rancid Phenomenon

The corpse flower only blooms once every 7–10 years and for just 24–36 hours, making it one of the rarest floral events in the plant world. When it does, it emits a powerful odor similar to rotting meat to attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flies. But in Floyd's case, it also attracted curious crowds, elementary-aged kids who had been following it in classrooms, and those who wanted to experience something rare and rancid.

The Hype Machine

Leading up to the bloom, Reiman Gardens launched a parody campaign modeled after the career of a rock star, aiming to give the plant its own personality, uniqueness, coolness, and the prestige of a “botanical rock star.”

T-shirts were made with a Stink Floyd logo, and a barrage of social media posts were created to promote “The Dark Side of the Bloom” and “Another Stink in the Wall” as part of the campaign parody. 

Social media followers were greeted with POV (Point-Of-View) videos featuring daily life behind the scenes of staff impatiently waiting for it to bloom, diva-like plant behavior, daily check-ins, and the suspense of when it was going to perform its smelly concert.

Floyd’s Final Act

On May 15, Stink Floyd bloomed in full glory. Visitors stood in line for hours to witness the rare floral moment and bask in the funk. The scent? "It smells like the eighth-grade bathroom," according to one young visitor. Others added that it smelled like dead fish and rotting roadkill. 

The bloom lasted into the next day, earning comparisons to aging rock stars who insist each tour is their last (Elton John, we see you). But as quickly as it came, Floyd’s fame faded. The stalk collapsed. The smell vanished. But the legend lives on.