{
  "id": 20067903,
  "title": "‘We’re assuming it’s going to be a lot smellier this year’: Pete the corpse flower prepares to bloom in Geelong",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/were-assuming-its-going-to-be-a-lot-smellier-this-year-pete-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T22:46:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian Australia",
    "slug": "the-guardian-australia",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/15/pete-corpse-flower-blooms-in-geelong-botanic-gardens"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Geelong's Botanic Gardens are eagerly anticipating the arrival of its second corpse flower bloom in just two years. The 178cm tall plant, named \"Pete,\" broke through the soil at the end of September and is already nearly double the height of the previous bloom, \"Betsy.\" As Pete prepares to bloom, it's expected to release its signature scent of rotting flesh and \"possum urine,\" a phenomenon expected to occur as early as Sunday. The flower's 24 to 48-hour bloom is a rare sight, drawing crowds eager to experience its distinctive odor. At 13 years old, Pete is a significantly larger specimen than its predecessor, and its size is expected to amplify the pungent aroma, making it \"a lot smellier this year.\" Titan arums, also known as corpse flowers, emit a putrid smell to attract pollinators, such as insects, mimicking the scent of a dead animal. The geographically isolated Sumatra, Indonesia, is the native habitat of these endangered plants, making Australia one of the top three locations for their growth. The gardens' senior horticulture curator, Matt Coulter, who propagated and cared for the plants for eight years before donating them, feels \"proud\" to witness their blooming spectacle, which generates significant public interest. The garden also features other notable plants, such as the 167-year-old Ginkgo biloba, which is Victoria's tree of the year. Visitors can follow the blooming event in real-time through a 24-hour live stream.",
  "summary": "The 178cm plant is expected to unfurl as early as Sunday and release its signature scent of rotting flesh and ‘possum urine’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Geelong botanic gardens is preparing for its second corpse flower bloom in two years – a normally rare event that has been dubbed a “smelly sequel” . The flower, which broke through soil at the end of September,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pete the corpse flower blooms in Geelong's Botanic Gardens",
    "Expected to release rotting flesh and possum urine scent",
    "13-year-old Pete is larger than previous bloom Betsy"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}