The year for the Amorphophallus titanum

Last week I wrote about the Amorphophallus titanum that was growing in Brussels. Although the plant does not bloom very often, it was blooming more often than normal in Brussels.  It turns out that this may be the year for the plant as it is also blooming in the U.S. Botanical Gardens in DC, as seen below.

This article in the Washington Post had more details about the plant.  First, it really stinks; the stinking is designed to lure carrion insects from miles around.  And, it's quite heavy; its tuber alone may weigh as much as 90 pounds.  It is fed some unusual things.  The grower says, “I used to feed it dead mice two or three times a month. Dead rodents — nothing like ’em.”  Now he feeds it a standard blood, bone and feather meal, as well as a supplement for plants that grow in volcanic soils.