Cream
Flower Color
Non Fragrant
Fragrance
Summer
Flowering Season
Low
Maintenance
Medium
Size
Yes
With Pots
Stapelia
Genus
Outdoor Shade,Outdoor Sun
Sunlight Requirement
Twice A Week
Water Requirement
Low Maintenance,Outdoor
Use
Stapelia gigantea
Family
Apocynaceae
Native
South eastern Africa
Description
Stapelia gigantea is a species of flowering plant. Growing up to 20 cm (8 in) tall, it is a clump-forming succulent with erect green stems 3 cm thick.
In summer, it bears large star-shaped five-petalled flowers up to 25 cm in diameter. The flowers are red and yellow, wrinkled, with a silky texture and fringed with hairs, that can be as long as 8 mm. They have the smell of rotting flesh, in order to attract the flies which pollinate them.
Due to its tender nature and intolerance of extended freezing, this plant is usually grown as a houseplant in temperate zones.
Environment
In general they are drought-resistant succulents suited for rockeries, and the small-flowered species are suitable as container Cactus.
They are excellent subjects for a water-wise garden, Provided that they are not over-watered and are given a warm position.
They like a sunny position and will also grow in light, semishade in hot climates. The soil should have good drainage
Landscape Uses
Some large-flowered species make a good show when grown in masses in the garden.
