It'll be big. It'll be beautiful. And it'll stink.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is anxiously awaiting the extremely rare blooming of its 13-year-old titan arum plant, which is one of the largest flowering plants in the world. The blooming, which lasts only about 24 hours, is expected to occur as soon as Thursday, July 19, or as late as Sunday, July 22.

In full bloom, the titan arum will stand taller than most people, and it'll emit an unforgettable odor that some have likened to rotting meat. Thus its alternate name: The Corpse Flower.

This rare blooming will be a first in the state of Ohio, as Cleveland Metroparks Zoo prepares to join an elite list of just 20 institutions in North America to successfully bloom the titan arum. Those wishing to see the magnificent plant -- and smell it, too -- may view it in the Zoo's RainForest during normal hours.

"We've been babying this plant for 13 years, just waiting for it to bloom, so this really is significant for us, " said Don Krock, the Zoo's Manager of Horticulture. "Just don't put your nose too close. You would think a flower this beautiful should smell like roses, but it doesn't. It definitely has an unpleasant odor."

The Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is native to the rainforests of Sumatra and rarely flowers in the wild. The few times it has bloomed in North American zoos and botanical gardens, it has attracted national media attention and thousands of visitors. The most recent blooming reported was last month at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Botanical Gardens, where more than 4,000 people stopped by to see the sight and smell the stink.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is home to 168-acres of award-winning gardens featuring tens of thousands of plants, flowers and trees maintained daily by a skilled team of horticulturists.

Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2007, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with hours extended to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Admission is $10 per person ages 12 and older, $5 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children under 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 77, 90 and 480. To learn more, visit clemetzoo.com or call (216) 661-6500.