PlantFiles Pictures: Ceropegia Species, Carrion Flower, Carrion Plant, Starfish Plant, Toad Plant, Zulu Giant (<i>Ceropegia gigantea</i>) by Azalea

Upclose of center.

by GiaVette May 27, 2003 11:01 AM

by Azalea Aug 24, 2002 1:53 PM

11 inches across from point to point

by moscheuto Oct 29, 2001 10:35 AM

by alhanks Oct 29, 2001 5:52 PM

by mystic Nov 20, 2001 5:57 PM

Upclose view of hairs.

by GiaVette May 27, 2003 11:00 AM

Stapelia Gigantea

by moscheuto Oct 29, 2001 10:31 AM

Bud just before opening

by mystic Nov 20, 2001 5:59 PM

Unopened Stapiliad bud.

by Azalea Aug 24, 2002 1:55 PM

Sometimes called "Star Cactus", because of the hairy star shaped bloom. It is not a cactus, but is a succulent which is native to tropical areas and grows wild on some beaches in Florida. The bloom has an unpleasent odor to attract flies for the purpose of pollination.

by Azalea Aug 24, 2002 1:52 PM

Just starting to set flower buds (9/21/03). Flowers every fall for me.

by HarryNJ Sep 21, 2003 11:26 PM

Grown in Georgia.

by drippy30506 Sep 24, 2003 9:11 AM

I have great success propagating this plant. I wait all year for this beautiful bloom. As you will note I can expect quite a few more this year.

by KactusKathi Oct 3, 2003 10:16 AM

I am waiting in anticipation for the others to bloom

by KactusKathi Oct 4, 2003 1:14 PM

This is the first time I've had flowers, and in fact it's only a 3 year old plant. I've never even bothered to identify it until these huge buds began opening. So far there are 14 of them. My care of it could be described as "benign neglect"

by gardenmaniac Oct 10, 2003 8:01 AM

The "rotten meat" smell became suddenly very intense in the room, that's when I noticed the fly doing it's job of pollinating. This bloom has now been open for 4 days and several others now look ready to open.

by gardenmaniac Oct 12, 2003 11:29 PM

After removing the first blossom after 5 days the rest of these opened (7). The only time the strong odor is emitted is when the hairs are disturbed..either by moving or by flies crawling over them.

by gardenmaniac Oct 17, 2003 10:59 PM

have had this plant for 10 years and it never bloomed, moved to florida and it bloomed the first year. I keep it ouside and cover it when temps get low.

by loreli_1979us Jan 8, 2004 9:26 AM

growing outdoors in Southern California in hot sun

by palmbob Sep 2, 2004 1:02 PM

by KactusKathi Oct 1, 2004 1:52 PM

by KactusKathi Sep 30, 2004 1:52 PM

An explosion of blooms and flies!

by KactusKathi Oct 13, 2004 1:30 PM

Two flowers getting ready to the right.

by Happenstance Mar 27, 2005 11:15 AM

Seed pods

by Happenstance Mar 27, 2005 11:15 AM

Stapelia Gigantea in bloom attracting flies.

by reidster Jun 23, 2005 11:26 PM

Stapelia gigantea; St. Petersburg, Florida; Zone 9b; June 2005.

by spaceman_spiff Jul 4, 2005 11:48 PM

by RWhiz Sep 26, 2005 12:14 PM

by mario7469 Sep 18, 2005 10:48 PM

this one had 3 blooms at same time and 7 more "pods", unopened

by tinkers Oct 3, 2005 10:49 PM

Prolific bloomer

by corky59 Oct 9, 2005 3:40 PM

by KactusKathi Oct 22, 2005 8:01 PM

by KactusKathi Oct 21, 2005 8:22 PM

by vossner Oct 24, 2005 10:07 PM

Finally, a good bloom that did not curl back. This one was 12.5" from tip to tip.

by cacti_lover Nov 15, 2005 10:14 PM

A close-up view of the flower. This plant was given to me by another gardener around March. I was fortunate to have blooms in less than a year.

by cacti_lover Nov 16, 2005 10:14 PM

by gumlla Jan 7, 2006 9:23 PM

by Joy Feb 28, 2006 10:49 PM

16" from tip to tip bloom

by ElysianFields Apr 24, 2006 10:57 PM

Stapelia gigantea wih bud about to open

by wilburdav Aug 13, 2006 11:23 PM

Just added to my garden

by Xenomorf Aug 29, 2006 4:19 PM

This cluster of Carrion Plants, Carrion Flowers, Starfish Planst, Toad Plants, Zulu Giants (Stapelia gigantea) had over 50 blooms in September.

by htop Sep 29, 2006 1:50 AM

Carrion Plant, Carrion Flower, Starfish Plant, Toad Plant, Zulu Giant (Stapelia gigantea) petals untwisted one at a time as the flower opens.

by htop Sep 29, 2006 3:03 AM

by KactusKathi Oct 7, 2006 11:09 PM

by KactusKathi Oct 7, 2006 11:08 PM

At the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.

by Calif_Sue Oct 8, 2006 9:49 PM

A bud in early October, mid Fall, zone 9b.

by Xenomorf Oct 12, 2006 12:50 PM

by KactusKathi Oct 21, 2006 11:20 PM

by KactusKathi Oct 21, 2006 11:19 PM

by Kell Oct 23, 2006 10:46 PM

by txbio Oct 27, 2006 10:59 PM

Got it from a trade, one finger. Growing well and this is the first flower after 2 years of care. April15, 2007

by Dinu Apr 19, 2007 3:32 AM

Hairy Giant Starfish 'Stapelia Nobilis' Full sun,loves the heat!

by marlouise1 Jul 5, 2007 10:18 PM

This plant produced a less common 6-angled flower this year.

by cacti_lover Nov 27, 2007 10:48 AM

by fleurone Dec 26, 2007 4:38 AM

by fleurone Dec 26, 2007 12:31 PM

by Kell Feb 16, 2008 11:22 PM

Hairy!!

by Kell Feb 16, 2008 11:22 PM

Before flower opens

by cmcco004 Jul 6, 2008 4:32 AM

Showing pollen

by cmcco004 Jul 6, 2008 4:32 AM

Very large flower; compare to the hand/arm in the photo

by cmcco004 Jul 6, 2008 4:32 AM

Unique beauty survives Hurricane Gustav

by txmouse Sep 26, 2008 3:08 PM

OPENIND FLOWER FOR A CARRION CACTUS?

by MEMOMDUFF Sep 28, 2008 10:16 PM

colony growing in botanical gardens, southern California

by palmbob Oct 23, 2008 5:37 AM

by fleurone Nov 20, 2008 6:21 PM

Carrion Cactus flower bud

by notgnostic Apr 16, 2009 6:30 PM

Such a wonderous and amazing plant!

by KatG Apr 28, 2009 5:05 PM

nice looking plants in spring, southern California

by palmbob May 1, 2010 10:12 PM

The flower opens at night falls and stay open for several days.

by Lily_love Aug 9, 2010 3:37 AM

by tony9779 Sep 4, 2010 8:34 PM

Potted Stapelia gigantea flowering in January 2011, Cape Town

by boomboer Jan 26, 2011 4:23 AM

Stapelia gigantea flower detail

by boomboer Apr 6, 2011 4:04 AM

by kungfoochimp Aug 9, 2011 11:21 PM

Blooming in October in California

by Domehomedee Oct 19, 2011 3:56 PM

Flower detail

by kniphofia Nov 6, 2011 10:10 PM

a veritable sea of stinkies

by trackinsand Jun 7, 2012 9:59 AM

Blooms can be much larger than your open hand. This bloom has a fly pollenating it.

by Cville_Gardener Feb 22, 2013 7:41 AM

The large buds are almost as attractive as when the plant is in bloom.

by Cville_Gardener Feb 22, 2013 7:41 AM

Copyright of, courtesy of Hendrik van Zijl, Van Zijl Guesthouses, Nieuwoudtville Cape. Stopover on your way to and from the Kgalagad. http://nieuwoudtville.co.za

by Kell May 13, 2016 8:42 AM

Copyright of, courtesy of Hendrik van Zijl, Van Zijl Guesthouses, Nieuwoudtville Cape. Stopover on your way to and from the Kgalagad. http://nieuwoudtville.co.za

by Kell May 13, 2016 8:42 AM

Lots of fly eggs have been deposited. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

by Kell Sep 11, 2018 9:14 PM

Photo courtesy of and copyright of Armella Maria Pratt from Hervey Bay, Queensland

by Kell Mar 22, 2020 5:51 PM

Photo courtesy of and copyright of Armella Maria Pratt from Hervey Bay, Queensland

by Kell Mar 22, 2020 5:51 PM