Corpse flower expected to bloom at Garfield Park Conservatory

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There's a stinky waiting game on Chicago's West Side.

A corpse flower is expected to bloom any day now at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

The rare titan arum, named Persephone, showed signs that it was close to blooming Friday morning. Both of its bracts fell off, which is one of the signs used to predict its blooming.

When the flower blooms, it's only open for 24 to 36 hours and emits a strong odor, hence its nickname. According to the park, the exact time of its flowering is hard to predict, but staff has been on alert.

Since the odor is the strongest in the early hours of the morning, officials say, the facility will be open to visitors until 12 a.m. Friday and will reopen at 6 a.m. on Saturday at 300 N. Central Park Ave.

Persephone was donated to the conservatory in May by the Chicago Botanic Garden.