Wirth Florist

Gone but not forgotten! You can own a piece of history... who knew?

1950’s Double Sided Porcelain Flower Shop Neon Sign « Obnoxious Antiques

I went to see this flower last week at Binghamton University. It was 73 inches tall

I went to Binghamton to visit my friend Dolores and see this magnificent flower open. This 73(6'1") inche tall flower opens for about 24 hours is over 3 feet wide and smell like roadkill on a hot day. The world record is 10 feet +. We could easily smell it in the parking lot of Binghamton University...100 yards away! It is pollinated by flies in the wilds of Borneo but by steady handed horticulturalists in this case. There were many hundreds of flies present . This plant has the distinction of being of wild stock in Borneo. Most of the plants on the market are captive bred. I have 5 seedlings of the latter from Cornell U. I grew from seed. This plant bloomed a few years ago from which pollen was used to pollinate the Cornell plant and is the "father" of my seedlings. I find the "stench" of this flower is no worse the many overdosed perfumed humans.