Carrion Plant

Stapelia Gigantia, Family of Asclepiadaceae



Smelly succulent, blooms in the Fall, flies love it for it's odor. Adds a classic touch to the garden. Dare not over water, and it thrives on drought.This succulent grows quite rapidly in this small red-ware pot.

Native of South Africa, namely Zambia, it is grown to spread culture and only about 12 inches in height. It will perish in frost, and desert heat's direct sun.



It will flower lying on the ground if planted in soil or stones, or upright, reaching for light. This plant likes a good drink now and then, preferably out of doors, where the excess moisture will evaporate.

The odor is not invasive, if there is good air movement and if only a small amount of blooms are open at one time.

The bloom is yellow with wiggly dark red lines with red blush inside the inner bloom and has a star-like center is blackish maroon. It has five petals which will stretch outward, upward, sideways or curl backward onto the stem.



This succulent is also know as Giant Zulu Plant and Star Fish Flower.

There are three more Carrion Plants: the flavo-purpurea, (light purple color, bloom and flesh.)
The grandiflora, (purple/greenish flesh hue) and the hirsuta (greenish flesh with dark purple bloom. )

BTW, The land - locked area of Zulu is in Malawi, near the Southeastern Africa and Indian Ocean shoreline, South of Tanzania, East of Zambia, with striking desert and awesome sunsets, rich in vibrant colors and severe weather.

H.Grayce Petrick Ezarik 13 Feb 2007

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