Smelly plant flowers once again in Christchurch

  • 28/10/2016
The exotic plant Amorphophallus Konjac at the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch (Newshub)
The exotic plant Amorphophallus Konjac at the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch (Newshub)

The stench of voodoo lilies have once again burst into life at the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch just in time for Halloween.

Widely known for its smell of rotten meat, the exotic plant amorphophallus konjac has made a late appearance, as they normally arrive in September or October.

The timing has given rise to a tombstone and skeleton display around the plants in the gardens' conservatory.

Operations Manager Jeremy Hawker says some people are put off by the strong smell but is a strong attraction with boys who visit.

"When you take a whiff some people are turned off by them," Mr Hawker says.

"Usually people are revolted by it…I don't know what it is." 

"They remind me of [my sons] rooms when they were growing up."

The plant only flowers for a few days a year and smells like rotten meat, which Mr Hawkers says is to attract flies for pollination.

One visitor told Newshub he doesn't think he'd have it in his garden.

"It smelt like meat that has gone off," he says.

"It's a nice plant but I don't know if I'd have it in the garden."

Newshub.