A rare plant known as the corpse flower bloomed in Sydney on Friday for the first time in more than a decade, emitting an odour likened to rotting flesh and delighting thousands who queued for a whiff.

Staff at the gardens revealed they considered putting vomit bags in the room, where crowds lined up to get a whiff of what many have described as a "rotting" smell.

Sydney’s botanic gardens haven’t had a bloom of the corpse flower, which only lasts about 24 hours, in 15 years.