Rare corpse flower to bloom at Cal Poly

For the first time, a rare corpse flower is set to bloom at Cal Poly.

It takes about ten years or more for a Titan Arum to bloom. The blooms themselves can grow more than ten feet high and four feet in diameter.

Cal Poly horticulture and botany students have been growing the plant in the horticulture unit's Tropical House for several years and this will be the plant's first flower.

The flowers are open for only two days. In order to attract insects to pollinate the plant, it emits a foul aroma similar to that of rotting flesh.

The flower is expected to open around July 7, and the public is invited to visit.

More information about when the plant will bloom and how to see it is available on the Cal Poly College of Science and Mathematics Facebook page.

A livestream of the corpse flower is also available on YouTube.