Home » News » A historic first for Cooktown Botanic Gardens as Big Betty Blooms

A historic first for Cooktown Botanic Gardens as Big Betty Blooms

Curator of Cooktown Botanic Gardens, Nikko Menzel, and the dedicated Gardens crew—Mark Mitchell, Angus Snell, and Dayhahnera Hutchinson

The long-anticipated moment has arrived: Big Betty, Cooktown Botanic Gardens’ Amorphophallus titanum (Titan Arum), has bloomed for the first time in history.

 

Standing tall at an impressive 1.2 meters, this rare and magnificent event has drawn excitement from the local community, visitors, and fans from across the globe.

Big Betty, affectionately named by the Gardens team, was acquired from Cairns Botanic Gardens in 2019 and has been nurtured with great care ever since. Her journey to this extraordinary bloom has been followed closely by plant enthusiasts, both locally and internationally, who have shared in the excitement of this rare botanical milestone.

Known as the “corpse flower” for the strong odor it emits during its bloom—described as resembling rotting flesh—Big Betty has surprised many with a subtler scent that wafts in gentle waves. Despite her softer olfactory presence, her bloom is nothing short of spectacular, showcasing her vibrant eggplant-purple spathe and dramatic structure.

Curator of Cooktown Botanic Gardens, Nikko Menzel, and the dedicated Gardens crew—Mark Mitchell, Angus Snell, and Dayhahnera Hutchinson (all pictured above, left to right) —have been instrumental in bringing Betty to this historic moment. Their hard work, care, and passion for the Gardens have allowed Big Betty to flourish, creating a unique opportunity for locals and visitors to witness one of nature’s rarest phenomena.

“Seeing Big Betty bloom has been a truly rewarding experience for our team and the community,” said Nikko Menzel. “The Titan Arum is one of the most extraordinary plants in the world, and to have her bloom here at Cooktown Botanic Gardens is an incredible milestone.”

Titan Arums are notoriously rare bloomers, taking between 7 to 10 years to produce their first bloom and flowering only once every 4 to 5 years after that. Big Betty’s bloom is expected to last just 24–48 hours, making this a fleeting yet unforgettable moment in botanical history.

Visitors are encouraged to head to Cooktown Botanic Gardens to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event before Big Betty’s bloom fades.