Dolly’s last bloom creates a living tribute at UNC Charlotte

August 26, 2026
Categories: General News Tags: Botanical Gardens, Klein College of Science
Dolly the Bromeliad at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

“Dolly the Bromeliad,” a striking plant once owned by the late Dolly Parton, is now in its final bloom at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. The towering display offers visitors a rare chance to see the plant’s last and most spectacular stage of life, made even more meaningful following Parton’s passing.

Dolly is currently displaying a dramatic flower spike inside the McMillan Greenhouse on UNC Charlotte’s main campus. Alcantarea imperialis, one of the world’s largest bromeliad species, is native to the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is known for producing a single, striking inflorescence at the end of its life. The plant’s bloom typically occurs between eight and 20 years of age, making each flowering event both rare and memorable.

The bromeliad was generously donated to the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens by Mountain Paradise Nursery following the International Carnivorous Plant Symposium and Expo, held May 16–17 in Kernersville, North Carolina. The event brought together plant experts and enthusiasts from around the world. Botanical Gardens staff attended the expo and hosted a large booth, where the nursery entrusted the Gardens with Dolly’s safe transport and end‑of‑life care.

Since arriving on campus, Dolly has been cared for by the Botanical Gardens’ expert horticulture staff in the McMillan Greenhouse. The current bloom represents years of growth and cultivation from its previous owners and now stands as a final, vivid display of one of Brazil’s most iconic plant species — and a meaningful tribute to the beloved entertainer whose name it carries.

Visit the Botanical Gardens

  • The McMillan Greenhouse on UNC Charlotte’s main campus is located at 9026 Craver Rd., Charlotte NC 28223.
  • The greenhouse is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the closest visitor parking in East Deck 1.
  • The McMillan Greenhouse will be open extended hours Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • The 10 acres of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens are open sunrise to sunset, every day of the year.

Written by: Jenn Conway and Jennifer Howe