SA's corpse flower draws big crowds

Crowds of curious punters have flocked to the Adelaide Hills to get a whiff of a rare flower that smells like a corpse.

Adelaide's latest tourist attraction smells like rotting flesh, grows up to three metres tall and features a giant phallic spike - and it's drawing big crowds.

Mount Lofty Botanic Garden in the Adelaide Hills is playing host to the endangered titan arum or corpse flower, named for its distinctive odour.

Curious punters flocked to the garden on Tuesday as the rare flower began to bloom, an event that only lasts around 48 hours before it collapses in on itself.

Photos on social media showed long queues of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the plant.

"Flowering events are rare because the plant is so difficult to cultivate, even in optimum conditions," horticultural curator Matt Coulter said.

"The titan arum really is one of the world's most fascinating plants, and we're ecstatic the South Australian public have the opportunity to see it."

Anyone keen to get a whiff has been urged to get in quick, with the garden likely to close later in the week because of bushfire danger.