Two U.S. colleges are awaiting the bloom of corpse flowers, a rare plant with the creepy nickname and an unforgettable — some would say putrid —smell.

The corpse flower at Michigan State University is expected to bloom this week.

(Michigan State University)

Horticulture departments at both Michigan State University in East Lansing, and Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, are inviting visitors to get a glimpse —and a whiff —of the rare Titan arum, also known as the corpse flower.

Indigenous to tropical rain forests in Sumatra, Indonesia, this flower can grow up to 12 feet tall, and has a smell comparative to rotting flesh when it's in full bloom.

But full bloom doesn't happen often, and it doesn't last long.

"The plant blooms only when sufficient energy is accumulated, making time between flowering unpredictable, spanning from a few years to more than a decade," the U.S. Botanic Garden explains.

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Los Angeles TV stationKTLAinterviewed Joe Stead with the Orange Coast College Horticulture Department Friday. Stead explained theplant emits a strong smellto "attract pollinators" in its jungle habitat.

The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden at Michigan State University expects its 5-foot-tall flower to open this week. Both colleges are opening their doors to visitors. You can follow updates from MSU on Facebook. You can also use get more from Orange Coast College here.

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