Stapelia gigantea N.E.Br. 

🌱 Morphology

  A carrion plant... A succulent perennial plant with a creeping habit and clumping growth, forming extensive mats through the branching of its stems from the base. The stems, generally 10–30 cm long, are fleshy, green, and quadrangular in cross-section, with four well-defined angles and small bumps where the leaves are reduced to tiny scales. Under intense light, they can develop reddish or purple hues.

Its most spectacular feature is the size of its flowers, which can reach between 20 and 40 cm in diameter. They are five-lobed star-shaped, cream-yellow or beige, marked by transverse reddish, maroon, or purple bands. The surface is covered with fine hairs that accentuate its velvety texture. 

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family

It is native to tropical southern Africa and southern Africa, with presence in countries such as Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It grows in warm and seasonally dry regions, on rocky outcrops, sandy soils, and stony ground, as well as among the open vegetation of savannas and scrublands. It can develop in full sun or under the light shade of shrubs, taking advantage of partial protection from extreme heat. Its fleshy stems store water and allow it to withstand periods of drought.

Family: Apocynaceae. Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae. Tribe: Ceropegieae.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 10b

It tolerates minimum temperatures close to 1.7 °C, corresponding to the lower limit of USDA zone 10b, although this figure should not be interpreted as a safe temperature for cultivation. It is a species sensitive to frost and cool, wet conditions. It is recommended to keep it preferably above 10 °C during winter, with good light and a nearly dry growing medium. Low temperatures combined with persistent moisture can cause rot in the stems and roots.

☀️ Light

It develops well with intense light, from moderate direct sun to bright partial shade. Abundant exposure promotes the formation of compact stems and satisfactory flowering. In summer, especially in very warm climates, it may benefit from some protection from the more intense midday sun, while always maintaining good ventilation. As a general guideline, it may be targeted for a DLI PAR of 20–35 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹, adapting it to the temperature and the plant's acclimatization.

💧 Growth and watering cycle

Winter dormancy. Its growth occurs mainly during warm and bright periods, with a reduction in activity when temperatures drop. During spring and summer, it is recommended to water thoroughly and allow the growing medium to dry completely before watering again. In winter, water inputs should be considerably reduced, especially if the plant remains in a cool environment. In warm conditions, it may maintain some activity for longer, so it is advisable to adjust the watering to its actual growth. Excess moisture is especially dangerous for its fleshy stems.

🌸 Flowering

It produces some of the largest flowers of the genus Stapelia, with diameters that can reach 40 cm in exceptional specimens. The flowers emerge near the base of the stems, on short peduncles, and can appear successively throughout the warm season. The corolla has five triangular and elongated lobes, cream or pale yellow in color, with reddish or maroon transverse bands and a fine pubescence. It gives off an intense scent reminiscent of decaying flesh, an adaptation that attracts flies and other dipterans responsible for pollination. Flowering usually concentrates in summer and can be prolonged depending on growing conditions.

During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, following the product's dosage instructions. It is advisable to maintain moderate fertilization, without excess nitrogen, to promote balanced stem development and flower formation. Fertilization should be reduced or suspended during winter dormancy. A well-aerated growing medium with excellent drainage is essential to prevent the base of the stems from rotting.

Gourmet black pot, 10x10 cm

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with a growing medium activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.