Trudy, The Stinky Flower With Largest Bloom In The World Is About To Open

BERKELEY (CBS SF)-- A massive foul-smelling plant from Sumatra, Indonesia, may bloom any day now at the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley, according to garden officials.

The plant, nicknamed Trudy, produces one enormous branched leaf that reaches 10 to 15 feet in height. It has the largest bloom of any plant, according to garden officials.

Visitors view the world's largest flower at an arboretum in Fullerton, California. The Indonesian titan arum "corpse flower" is 58-inches tall and has a putrid scent to lure pollinating dung beetles. It can sometimes be smelled half a mile away. (LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images)

The plant must usually be at least six to seven years old before it blooms, garden officials said. Trudy bloomed in the garden for the first time in 2005 and then bloomed again in 2009.

A boy covers his nose as he stands near a fully bloomed titan arum. (HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Garden officials said the plant, which has the official name of titan arum, has attracted worldwide attention because of its size, appearance and smell. Titan arums produce an odor similar to rotten flesh, according to garden officials.

The smell lasts for eight to 12 hours, the officials said.

Garden visitors can see Trudy in the Tropical House any day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last entry to the garden at 4:30 p.m.

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