Stapelia grandiflora, commonly known as the Carrion Flower or Starfish Flower, is a remarkable succulent known for its distinctive and unusually large star-shaped flowers. The most striking feature is its large, star-shaped flowers, which can be up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter. Considering how fascinating they are, it's a wonder stapeliads aren't more widely cultivated.
These star-shaped blooms use color, texture, and odor to resemble decomposing meat.
How to Grow Stapelia |Daphne Richards |Central Texas Gardener
Origin and Habitat
This plant is native to South Africa, where it thrives in arid regions, making it well-adapted to hot, dry climates.
Plant Characteristics
Stapelia grandiflora features fleshy, spineless green stems that resemble cacti but are more closely related to milkweeds.
Foliage
Stapelia grandiflora lacks traditional leaves. Instead, it features thick, fleshy, green stems that are four-angled and serve the photosynthetic function.
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Flowers
These flowers are produced from the base on younger shoots. They can be orange, deep red, purple or chocolate, often covered with long fine hairs at their center. They emit a strong odor resembling that of rotting meat, which serves to attract its primary pollinators, flies.
The blooming period occurs in late summer to early fall. Each flower lasts just a few days, but the plant may produce multiple blooms over several weeks. After pollination, the plant produces twin seed pods typical of the Apocynaceae family, similar to those of common milkweed but smaller.
The flowers ripen to a rather horrifying odor after a couple of days. This reek is attractive to insects that seek out dead organic material. If you have a fruit fly infestation or other pest, try moving your stinky plant darling into the area. The insects are drawn to the carrion stench and sit mesmerized on the flower unable to move.
Cultivation and Care
Growing starfish flowers as houseplants is ideal in most zones of the United States. You can move them outside in the heat of summer or grow them in a greenhouse. These starfish flowers are easy to care for and thrive in a variety of light conditions.
Light
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Morning light is the best with some protection from harsh midday rays.
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Soil
Requires a well-draining soil mix, ideally formulated for cacti and succulents. Soil should drain exceptionally well.
Water
Water sparingly. Allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot, especially in cooler months. As with most succulents, keep soil barely moist. Water once every week or so in summer; less in fall and winter depending on the weather; and minimally in winter. Protect from soaking rainstorms. Water when stems start to wrinkle and shrink or droop.
Temperature
Prefers warm temperatures and is not frost-tolerant. Keep temperatures above 50°F (10°C).
Humidity
Stapelia grandiflora is quite tolerant of varying humidity levels.
Fertilizer
Fertilize lightly during the growing season (spring and summer) using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength. Jen also applies half-strength fertilizer to encourage prolific blooms. She uses dilute fish emulsion, which she says smells worse than the flowers!
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Pruning
Remove any dead or dying stems to maintain the plant’s health and appearance.
Repotting
Stapelia grandiflora should be repotted every two to three years or when it has outgrown its current pot. For maximum floral display, repot frequently.
Propagation
Easily propagated by stem cuttings. Take cuttings in spring as the weather warms. They’ll produce roots when laid flat on succulent soil.
Pests and Diseases
Watch for common succulent pests like aphids or mealybugs. Main enemies of stapeliads are mealy bugs and black rot. If you see any patches of the latter, remove them immediately.
Common Issues and Solutions
Stapelia grandiflora, while relatively easy to care for, can encounter several common issues, particularly related to its growing conditions.
- Root Rot: Ensure the plant is in well-draining soil and a pot with adequate drainage holes. Water only when the soil has completely dried out from the previous watering.
- Underwatering: While Stapelia is drought-tolerant, it does benefit from regular watering during the growing season.
- Sunburn: If exposed to too much direct sunlight, Stapelia’s stems can get sunburned, especially in intense midday heat.
- Lack of Flowers: Stapelia grandiflora flowers best when it is slightly stressed. Ensure it is getting enough light (but not too much direct sun) and that it is slightly pot-bound.
Uses
It is primarily used as an ornamental plant, ideal for rock gardens, desert gardens, or as a potted houseplant. More common uses of starfish cactus are as an ornamental specimen that is quite a conversation piece. The wide succulent branches have little ornamental use themselves, but once the flowers arrive in summer, the plant has a high wow factor. Of course, this is when you must cope with the smell, but you can move it outside if the odor is too offensive.
Hardiness
Stapelia grandiflora is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11.
Invasiveness
Stapelia grandiflora is not considered invasive.
Stapelia Gigantea
Stapelia gigantea, with flowers up to 10 inches across, has some of the largest blooms of any succulent. The Stapelia gigantea is one of the only species I have bought specifically for its flowers.
Synonyms of Stapelia Gigantea
- Ceropegia gigantea (N.E.Br.) Bruyns (2017)
- Gonostemon giganteus (N.E.Br.) P.V.Heath (1992)
- Gonostemon giganteus var. marlothii (N.E.Br.) P.V.Heath (1993)
- Gonostemon giganteus var. nobilis (N.E.Br.) P.V.Heath (1993)
- Gonostemon giganteus var. pallidus (E.Phillips) P.V.Heath (1993)
- Gonostemon giganteus var. youngii (N.E.Br.) P.V.Heath (1993)
- Stapelia cylista C.A.Lückh. (1933)
- Stapelia gigantea var. pallida E.Phillips (1925)
- Stapelia marlothii N.E.Br. (1908)
- Stapelia nobilis N.E.Br
- Stapelia youngii N.E.Br.
Growing Stapelia Gigantea
Stapelia gigantea appears to be easy to grow in well-draining potting soil. Young plants need ample moisture to get established. Once plants have become established, they only need regular watering during the growing period. During the winter months, they should have a cool dry rest period in a temperature of no less than 50° F (10° C).
