How and why Kew Gardens hand pollinated the largest flower in the world
It can reach 3m in height!
You might have seen the news that the Titan arum, also known as the Corpse Flower - which has the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world - bloomed at Kew Gardens in London last week! Hundreds of visitors gathered throughout the day to see the event, which only lasts for between 24 to 48 hours, and usually happens once every two years - a momentous event for those who have never seen it before!
Fun fact, Kew has had a Titan arum on show for over 100 years, and the second time it bloomed, in 1926, the crowds of visitors were so big that the police were called to control them! Those kinds of frenzies may not take place now that we can watch from across the nation and the world on Instagram, but Kew still gets heavy footfall on the day of the bloom.
Why is it so popular?
Not only is the blooming of the Titan arum a rare event, but there’s much more to this plant than its refusal to flower more than once every two years.