Overview

• Staff discovered the disappearance during a routine check around Wednesday, October 8, after the tuber had been covered following leaf senescence at the end of September.
• The stolen plant is a Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), which blooms only every few years for a few days and emits a strong carrion-like odor.
• City officials say previous blooms in 2018 and 2021 drew thousands of visitors, underscoring the plant’s public appeal.
• Garden staff describe the loss as significant and have appealed to the perpetrators to return the specimen.
• Authorities say the tuber’s material value is difficult to quantify, and no suspects or recovery have been reported.