Winnipeggers line up for whiff of rare flower stinking up greenhouse

Nature can be breathtaking.

A plant that’s become the star attraction at a Winnipeg greenhouse is taking that a little too literally.

And anyone brave enough to take a sniff of the Voodoo Lily — or Corpse Lily — at Winnipeg’s Sage Garden Greenhouse is finding out not all flowers in bloom have beautiful aromas.

The greenhouse has seen an influx in visitors wanting a whiff of the flower world renowned for its odour that closely resembles rotting flesh.

Greenhouse owner Dave Hanson says when they originally acquired the lily, there was no guarantee they would get to see it in its full glory, as it can take three to five years to bloom.

That made the odour they encountered early this week a stunning yet pleasant surprise.

“Tuesday of this week, we came in here and were like, ‘what’s going on?’” recounted Hanson. “Of course, we attributed the dank aromas to the plant.”

Aside from the plant’s viral aroma, Hanson has been overjoyed with how the lily has piqued the interest of so many, providing the greenhouse with a great opportunity to educate visitors on one of the world’s rarest flowers.

“What’s the purpose of all this, why does the plant have this aroma, how does it get seeds?” Hanson said.

“It’s been interesting just from a botanical, biological perspective. So it’s been a great opportunity to chat plants.”

For those still wanting to get a whiff of the lily, it should stay in bloom for another few days.