A unique plant is making a big stink in Hilo.

A corpse plant that has been growing for nine years at the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens was in full bloom Wednesday, emanating an odor described as similar to rotting meat.

"It smells like rotten garbage," said Pam Mizuno, Panaewa recreation complex manager. "It’s like if you threw away a meat wrapper in trash and didn’t take it out for a few days."

The foul odor is attracting curious visitors. Mizuno said zoo officials expect to be inundated with visitors as news spreads that the plant is in bloom. When a corpse plant on loan to the zoo bloomed in April, hundreds lined up before the zoo opened, Mizuno recalled. More than 1,000 guests visited on each of the two days the plant was in bloom.

"Corpse plant" is the common name for Amorphophallus titanum, which emits the distinctive odor when in full bloom to attract carrion-feeding beetles and flesh flies that pollinate it.

The plant growing at the zoo, nicknamed "Stinky 1," showed signs in July that it was on the verge of blooming when it measured about 15 inches. Since then, Mizuno said, people have been visiting or calling daily to check on its progress.

"We expected it to bloom sometime," she said. "It’s not predictable when it’s going to bloom."

The plant on loan in April was the first time a corpse plant was on public display in the islands, Mizuno said.

Those wanting a whiff have only a short window of time because the smell lasts just one or two days. The plant is one of two donated in 2002 by artist Hiroshi Tagami, Hawaii County officials said.

"The smell comes in waves. You need to stand in front of it for a while," Mizuno said. "It doesn’t linger on your clothes but it stays in your head. It’s definitely an unforgettable smell."