Paignton Zoo's sweet smell of success thanks to stinking plant

Paignton Zoo has cemented its relationship with the world-famous Kew Royal Botanical Gardens - thanks to a smelly plant.

The zoo has announced the donation of eight Titan arum plants to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, demonstrating the Devon zoo's impressive horticultural achievements with this endangered and notoriously difficult species. 

The Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), commonly known as the 'corpse flower' due to its powerful scent of rotting flesh when in bloom, is one of the botanical world's most fascinating rarities. Native to the rainforests of Sumatra in Indonesia, these endangered plants can grow up to three meters tall and produce the world's largest unbranched inflorescence. 

The donation highlights Paignton Zoo's growing reputation for botanical excellence, following their Britain in Bloom Gold Award last year. While most visitors come to see the zoo's diverse animal collection, an increasing number of plant enthusiasts are being drawn to its carefully curated botanical gardens. 

Catherine Mortimer, Curator of Gardens for Paignton Zoo, said: "Donating plants back to Kew Gardens is a significant milestone and a testament to our skills and expertise within the gardens team. Over the years, we have been extremely fortunate to receive tropical plant donations from Kew, providing a valuable resource for us to deliver diverse educational and immersive displays. It's great to collaborate with other botanical organisations working towards plant conservation." 

In addition to delivering the donated Titans, members of the garden team received new tropical and tender plants from RGB Kew, which will soon enhance the botanical collections inside Tropical Trails, Arid Lands, and Crocodile Swamp. 

The Titan arum's spectacular blooming is a rare event, happening just once every few years and lasting approximately 24 hours. During this brief window, the plant unfolds a vibrant maroon or crimson spathe around a large central spike called the spadix. This fleeting display, combined with its powerful scent designed to attract pollinators, makes flowerings a major attraction that can draw thousands of visitors. 

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Paignton Zoo's botanical collections create immersive environments throughout the zoo. The Crocodile Swamp showcases bromeliads and orchids mounted directly to walls, while the renovated Arid Lands desert house features innovative plant displays that enhance the visitor experience.