Corpse flower that smells like rotten flesh set to bloom in Dunedin Botanic Garden

The huge stinky flower is expected to draw large crowds. Photo / Dunedin Botanic Garden

Whether it's stinking hot or not, the Dunedin Botanic Garden is set to be the smelliest place in the city as its corpse flower begins to produce its rare bloom.

Dunedin Botanic Garden collection curator Stephen Bishop said it was the first time the plant (Amorphophallus titanium) had flowered in the decade it had been at the garden.

"The flower is beginning to emerge and it's still growing, it could be up to 2 metres high when it fully emerges. Exactly when the flower will open is guesswork but it could be later this week," he said.

At the moment it is growing about 10cm a day.

"The plant won't smell until the flower opens," Bishop said.

Famous for producing one of the world's largest flowers and a nauseating smell, comparable to rotting flesh, the flower is expected to draw large crowds.

The bloom is pungent but short-lived, so the winter garden glasshouse opening hours have been extended to allow people to have a look.

"There's not much time to see it; the flower only lasts around 24 to 36 hours.

"It's worth a visit though; especially because we have no idea when it might flower again in the future.

"There has been a lot of local interest and enquiries already. Some people are regularly visiting to watch its progress."

Still no knowing when the corpse plant will flower but it's growing in height about 10 CENTIMETRES A DAY! This photo was taken yesterday, Sunday. Winter garden glasshouse, open daily 10am to 4pm.

Posted by Dunedin Botanic Garden on Sunday, 28 January 2018