Infamous 'Corpse Flower' To Stink Up LA County Botanical Garden With Ultra-Rare Bloom

SAN MARINO, CA — An infamous "Corpse Flower" — named for its putrid stench — is set to make a rare appearance in Los Angeles County when it blooms at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens soon, according to the institution.

The amorphophallus titanum, also known as a titan arum, has been called the world's largest flower. But it's technically an "inflorescence" — a cluster of flowers.

It can reach more than 8 feet in height when it blooms, opening to a diameter of 4 feet. At its peak of its growth, it can grow up to 6 inches in one day.

The bloom, which lasts just 24-48 hours, is one of the rarest and shortest-lived spectacles in the plant world.

When the plant blooms, it gives off an odor akin to rotting flesh, attracting insects that pollinate the flowers deep inside. That's thanks to two key gasses — dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide — that are also present in decomposing animals and vegetables, according to a Huntington spokesperson.

Visitors will be able to view (and smell) the plant — nicknamed Green Boy --beginning Wednesday. A 24-hour live-stream will also be available online.

"A Corpse Flower bloom is one of nature's most extraordinary events — and a rare opportunity to spark curiosity about plants and highlight The Huntington's conservation mission," said Nicole Cavender, the Telleen/Jorgensen Director of the Botanical Gardens. "Every bloom connects visitors to the incredible diversity of the plant world and underscores our work here — through horticulture, research, education, and conservation efforts — to protect endangered species and their habitats."

City News Service contributed to this report.