Corpse flower's rare bloom to occur at Orange Coast College

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- A "corpse flower" is expected to bloom in the next few days at Orange Coast College's Horticulture Department, and the public is invited to witness the rare occurrence.

OCC says it could be decades before the flower blooms again. The last time that a corpse flower bloomed in Southern California was at Fullerton Arboretum in 2007.

The flower is actually called Amorphophallus titanium, but it's commonly known as the corpse flower because its odor has been compared to rotting flesh. Experts say the smell only lasts 24 to 48 hours while the plant is blooming.

According to the college, the species is considered endangered, but OCC's Horticulture Department, Huntington Botanical Gardens and Fullerton Arboretum are working together to propagate new plants.

The OCC Horticulture Department will open its doors to visitors between 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. this Thursday, June 19, through Sunday, June 22. Admission and parking are free with a suggested donation of $3 to support the college's horticulture program.

People interested in watching the rare bloom can also see it on the school's webcam: www.orangecoastcollege.edu/corpseflower.