THE long and uncertain wait is over for eager greenthumbs as one of the Cairns Botanic Gardens' rarest plants finally bears its spectacular bloom.

Nursery staff were put on alert when one of their huge titan arum plants showed signs of an imminent bloom more than a week ago.

The first plant failed to open, but their patience was rewarded when a second titan arum in the fernery unfurled to reveal a large, deep red bloom yesterday morning.

Curator David Warmington said staff had  been flooded with inquiries about the rare Sumatran flower.

Gardeners were hand-pollinating the flower last night.

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