Image: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is tracking an unusual double bloom watch in its conservatory: two corpse flowers, Odora and the newly named Odorysseus, are now on view and inching closer to flowering. The institution says the rare plants unfurl for just 24 to 48 hours, making the brief bloom one of the botanical world’s most closely watched events.
The update comes from The Huntington’s July 7 newsletter, which directs visitors to check bloom status as the window approaches. The garden institution is describing the plants in practical terms for the public, but the language also underscores the rarity of the moment: corpse flowers are known for a bloom cycle that can take years to arrive and then disappears quickly, leaving a short-lived spectacle for those able to catch it in time.
In the same newsletter, The Huntington pairs the bloom watch with an after-hours viewing opportunity. During 'Twilight Garden Strolls' on July 12, ticket holders will be able to visit the Conservatory from 5 to 8 p.m. to see the two corpse flowers as they prepare to bloom. Public and Member tickets are available for that special viewing, which falls within a larger evening program running from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on select Sundays through Aug. 16.
The Huntington’s notice also situates the bloom within a broader summer calendar that blends horticulture, public programming and exhibitions. The same email highlights a 'Chinese Medicinal Garden Open House' on July 8, 'Gardens Under Glass: Exploring the Possibilities of Terrarium Gardening' on July 9, and 'Twilight Garden Estate Tours' on July 12. It also points readers to ongoing exhibitions and seasonal programming across the campus, including the multiyear 'Reflections for America at 250' initiative.
The corpse flower update appears alongside other garden-focused features in the newsletter’s 'Now Blooming' section, which also mentions water lilies and lotus. The Huntington’s messaging presents the corpse flowers as part of a living collection that changes from week to week, with the bloom watch positioned as a temporary event rather than a fixed exhibition.
For visitors, the immediate detail is straightforward: two corpse flowers are currently in view at The Huntington, and their exact bloom timing remains under watch. The institution is asking the public to follow updates and plan visits around the approaching bloom window, with the July 12 'Twilight Garden Strolls' offering the clearest scheduled opportunity to see Odora and Odorysseus in the Conservatory before the flowers open.
