Top 10 Most Foul-Smelling Flowers Around the World

Titan Arum, also known as the "corpse flower", holds two major records: it's one of the largest flowers in the world and is infamous for having the most putrid smell. Its cluster of blooms can reach up to 3 meters tall, with a color resembling rotting meat, which attracts carrion-eating creatures to pollinate the plant. The cluster is made up of tiny flowers surrounded by a large spathe that mimics a giant petal. The outer part of the spathe is green, the inner part dark red, and the surface is wrinkled and hollow inside. The flower blooms for only 24 to 48 hours, and the plant only flowers every 4 to 6 years. According to Epoch Times, the most foul-smelling flower in the world, known as Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum), emits the odor of decaying flesh.

In 1878, Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari became the first Westerner to observe the Titan Arum in the equatorial rainforests of West Sumatra, Indonesia. The plant was later cultivated in places like England and the United States. Growing Titan Arum requires patience; it may take up to 10 years for it to bloom, and once it does, it flowers irregularly, every few years. The plant has a massive underground corm weighing up to 75 kg. When it blooms, it resembles a giant flower with a green spathe and a pointed central spadix. These structures contain thousands of tiny flowers, which botanists refer to as an inflorescence. Titan Arum, also called the "rotting corpse flower" or "decaying plant", emits a foul stench that attracts pollinating insects such as carnivorous beetles and flies. The blooming flower also generates heat, reaching temperatures of up to 36°C, which further lures insects, making them lay their eggs on what they mistakenly perceive as decaying flesh. This process aids in the plant's pollination.

According to National Geographic, the newly identified flower species A. perrieri ranks as the 170th member of the Amorphophallus genus (Greek for "shaped flower", named for the flower's shape). It was discovered on two remote islands off the northwest coast of Madagascar in 2006 and 2007. Its odor is a mix of the rotten smell of decaying animals and a strong scent of animal dung.

In a report, biologist Professor Lynn Bohs, a colleague of Professor Wahlert, described the scent of this shaped flower as a combination of rotting flesh and animal excrement. Professor Wahlert made the fortunate discovery of A. perrieri while collecting violet species on the islands of northwest Madagascar. Since this flower blooms only once a year, if Wahlert had visited at a different time, “I might have missed the chance to identify this species.” Suspecting it was a new species, he collected a sample and took it back to his lab. After consulting with a specialist in shaped flowers from the Netherlands, he confirmed that A. perrieri was previously unknown. Interestingly, this plant's shape resembles the male genitalia, and it is sometimes referred to as the "crooked penis plant". Besides its strange shape, the plant also emits an awful stench that attracts flies and other insects, luring them to become its next meal.

Jicaro Flower, scientifically known as Crescentia alata, has a fascinating feature: its blossoms grow directly from the old trunk of the tree, rather than from young branches as seen in most plants. The flower’s calyx measures 2-2.5 cm, and the reddish-brown petals are veined. There are four functional stamens and one sterile stamen, each about 1.5 cm in length. This tree blooms year-round, and naturally, its flowers emit a very strong, unpleasant odor that can be very disturbing if you happen to catch a scent.

In spring, the flowers tend to grow more vigorously, with their colors darkening to shades of purple and brown. While the flowers are rare, they produce a particularly unique scent. Once you inhale the “fragrance,” it’s a smell you’re unlikely to forget. Interestingly, this foul smell helps attract pollinators like decomposing beetles and flesh flies. On warm, sunny days, the flowers close up and release their pungent scent, luring flies into the flower, where they become trapped. Native to Central America, the Jicaro flower can also be found in Con Dao, Vietnam, and it closely resembles the Nuc Nac flower.

As the cold spring thaw begins in North America, a low-growing plant known as Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) emerges with an overpowering odor that attracts flies and beetles. One fascinating feature of this plant is its ability to melt the surrounding snow and ice, allowing its flowers to bloom in a small pool of water. From late February to May, in the wetlands and forests of Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States, this foul-smelling plant thrives, often being one of the first to bloom when snow is still present.

Similar to its Western counterpart, the Eastern Skunk Cabbage thrives in swampy regions. In the spring, its flowers bloom and can grow up to 10 cm in length and 15 cm in height, with the flower spathe turning a dark purple color. Once the flowers bloom, a few green flower leaves appear on the ground. These leaves emit a distinctive foul odor to attract pollinators. Interestingly, heat-producing plants like the Skunk Cabbage are more likely to attract warm-loving insects for pollination compared to carnivorous plants.

The Stinky Lily (also known by many names, such as Blackfoot Lily, Dragon Lily, Priest's Lily, and Snake Lily) is scientifically named Dracunculus vulgaris. Native to the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Europe, and Anatolia, this flower has recently spread to the United States and is thriving. It is a parasitic flower that draws water and nutrients from the host plant, a species of Tetrastigma vine.

The flower has an exquisite appearance, resembling a large leaf with a long stigma in the center. Its colors blend harmoniously, with shades of purple and red. However, despite its beauty, the intense stench it emits during its reproductive phase is horrific, filling the air for about a day while its sexual organs mature. Because of this, seeing the Stinky Lily in the wild is rare. When ready to reproduce, the flower forms a cabbage-like structure that blooms. About a year later, each petal opens briefly, and then the flower transforms into a round fruit containing thousands of seeds, which are dispersed by animals across the forest. The distinctive foul odor continues to attract insects to aid in pollination—ensuring the survival of this unique plant.

Dead Horse Arum (scientifically known as Helicodiceros muscivorus) is a rare and intriguing flower native to the northwest Mediterranean region. It features striking petals patterned like a horse, but its most distinctive characteristic is the pungent smell of rotting flesh it emits. This odor attracts flies, which are lured into the flower by the heat it generates. On warm, sunny days, the female flowers open and release their foul scent. Flies are quickly drawn inside, where they become trapped for the day, aiding in pollination.

Like the Skunk Cabbage, this plant generates heat to attract its pollinators. It is a unique ornamental species found in Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands. It belongs to the Helicodiceros genus in the Araceae family and is the only species in this genus. The flower's name comes from its shape, which resembles the anus of a dead horse. As you might imagine, the smell of decaying meat is intense and unmistakable, specifically to attract blue flies for pollination.

Have you ever seen a flower shaped like a "vagina"? On top of that, this flower emits a foul odor resembling human feces. This peculiar plant is Hydnora Africana, found in the southern regions of Africa. It grows entirely underground and survives by drawing nutrients from nearby plants, functioning as a parasitic species. This plant is unusual because it lacks leaves and chlorophyll. Hydnora Africana originates from the arid deserts of Southern Africa and thrives completely beneath the soil.

The parasitic flower survives by feeding on the roots of the Euphorbia plant. The reddish-pink blooms emerge from the sand, and their distinctive, rotten scent attracts black beetles. The buds resemble brown mushrooms, but when they bloom, they reveal their red or pale pink color. As the flower opens, it begins releasing its pungent scent, luring flies and beetles to pollinate it. These creatures remain trapped inside until the flower fully matures and opens its petals.

Rafflesia is known as the king of all flowers, found in the tropical forests of the islands of Java and Sumatra, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It holds the title of the largest single flower in the world. What makes this flower unique is its lack of roots, stem, or leaves — only a solitary, flesh-colored flower with a diameter of about 0.9 meters. Not only is its appearance strange, but its smell is also dreadful, resembling decaying flesh or a dead mouse. Rare, unusual, and oddly beautiful — the Rafflesia flower is a true marvel for those lucky enough to witness it in Southeast Asia.

When the enormous flower blooms, it emits the stench of rotting flesh to attract insects — its sole hope for reproduction. This foul odor draws in flies and other insects, which are lured to the flower. Tetrastigma is the only vine in the world capable of hosting the parasitic organisms that produce the Rafflesia flower. Over the course of a year, the small bud grows into a ball and eventually bursts open into a full bloom of Rafflesia. To reproduce, the flower starts emitting its putrid scent near the end of its life cycle. This scent attracts flies that inadvertently carry pollen to other wildflowers. Adding to the challenge, the Rafflesia is a hybrid species and is often found in same-sex groups. Insects must not only deliver pollen to another beetle, but they must also bring it to the opposite sex, all within a short flowering period of three to five days! If successful, the Rafflesia will produce a fruit roughly 6 inches wide, growing larger with a striking color.

Related to the papaya tree, the scientific name of Carica papaya is Asimina triloba. Its deep purplish-red flowers are unique and commonly grown in the southeastern United States. These flowers bloom in spring, but don’t be fooled by their cute and pretty appearance. The smell of the Carica papaya flower is far from pleasant. Surprisingly, the foul-smelling flower produces a fruit that is extremely delicious, resembling a mango in shape but with the flavor of a banana.

The Carica papaya flower emits an unpleasant odor that permeates the surrounding area where the plant grows, and it can even be detected in dried, older specimens. This distinct scent attracts flies and beetles, which help pollinate the flower. According to Robert Raguso, an ecologist at Cornell University, New York, the flower also generates heat when it releases its foul smell to attract insects. This heat acts like a fly trap, ensuring that pollination occurs as expected. The flower has a short lifespan, lasting only about one week (5-7 days), after which it wilts and dies.

Known scientifically as Stapelia gigantea N.E.Br., this plant belongs to the Apocynaceae family and was first described by N.E. Br. in 1877. Commonly referred to as the Zulu Giant, carrion plant, or toad plant, it originates from the deserts of Southern Africa and Tanzania. The name ‘carrion plant’ is also applied to the species Stapelia grandiflora. The plant has a short stem about 20 cm high, with thick, succulent, green leaves around 3 cm thick. Its flowers are massive, reaching up to 25 cm in diameter, with five large petals resembling a starfish. These flowers are usually a pale yellow or red color, wrinkled, and covered with hairs up to 8 mm long. They bloom in the autumn. The stinky starfish flower, also known as the giant Zulu flower, is an impressive plant with a flower that can grow up to 35 cm across, native to southeastern Africa.

The flower’s shape and odor match its name. The plant itself resembles a cactus, with succulent stems, while the flower, with its five star-like petals, comes in various colors. The petals are thick and leathery, decorated with prominent veins. It emits the foul smell of rotting flesh to attract flies for pollination. The large size of the flower is believed to be a strategy to attract flies for pollination. The combination of its size, color, and distinctive stench tricks flies into thinking the flower is a decaying corpse. Some suggest that the large flowers might function like radiators, similar to the large ears of the Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda), a desert animal known for its large ears that help regulate body heat. These flowers, with their foul odor and white, hair-like fibers, resemble a mouth that lures flies in for pollination. Interestingly, despite its overwhelming scent, this flower is cultivated as an ornamental plant in some homes.