Scientific Name
Orbea variegata (L.) Haw.
Common Name(s)
Carrion Cactus, Carrion Flower, Starfish Cactus, Star Flower, Starfish Plant, Toad Cactus, Toad Plant
Synonym(s)
Ceropegia mixta, Stapelia variegata, Stisseria variegata
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Orbea
Origin
Orbea variegata is native to South Africa (Cape Province).
Description
Orbea variegata, formerly known as Stapelia variegata, is a popular succulent with 4-angled toothed stems usually densely packed into a mat that may reach 3.3 feet (1 m). The stems are green, mottled with purple-brown. They are decumbent, up to 10 inches (25 cm) long, and up to 4 inches (1 cm) in diameter, excluding teeth.
The flowers are highly variable in color, but usually, they are speckled with purple-brown on a pale yellow background. They are star-shaped, up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) across, appear in late summer or fall, and have a faint carrion smell to attract potential insect pollinators. Seed pods are up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long and look very much like two horns.
In the United Kingdom, Orbea variegata has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings and feed the plants during the active growing seasons. Keep almost dry in the winter, but water sparingly occasionally to prevent wrinkling. As this plant comes from a winter rainfall area, it should be given a rest period with reduced watering during the summer months.
Soil should be well-drained and rich in organic matter. Therefore, it prefers a well-drained, sandy medium consisting of equal parts of washed river sand, potting soil, and topsoil.
Try to emulate its natural habitat, placing it to protect it from the sun during the hottest part of the day. This plant prefers the early morning or late afternoon sun. When grown as an ornamental plant in temperate zones, it requires protection, as it does not tolerate freezing temperatures.
Keeping Starfish Plants and their roots free of pests such as mealybugs is the real key to success, as fungal attack often occurs due to damage to stems by insects.
Propagate by seed sown in early spring or cuttings of stem sections after the flowering.
Links
- Back to genus Orbea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
