Scientific Name
Stapelia gettleffii R.Pott
Common Name(s)
Carrion Flower
Synonym(s)
Ceropegia gettliffei, Gonostemon gettleffii
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Stapeliae
Genus: Stapelia
Description
Stapelia gettleffii is a small succulent plant with green, 4-angled stems with toothed ribs. In its native habitat, it grows under trees and can spread horizontally up to 3.3 feet (1 m) in diameter. The stems are decumbent and measure up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall and up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) thick. They turn red in the dry season and become paper-thin.
The flowers are burgundy red, very hairy, and appear in summer and fall, reaching up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Several species are pretty easy to grow. Others, often those with slightly hairy stems and the more unusual flowers, are more challenging and require careful watering (with some fertilizer) during the growing season and complete water withdrawal during the winter months. A minimum winter temperature of 50 °F (10 °C) is acceptable, providing plants are kept dry. A heated growing bench or incubator may help delicate plants get through the colder months. However, many species live under shrubs in their habitat and prefer light shade rather than full sun.
A gritty compost is essential, and clay pots are advisable for the more delicate species. Some growers prefer mineral-only compost to minimize the chance of a fungal attack on the roots. A layer of grit on the surface of the compost prevents moisture from accumulating around the base of the stems.
Keeping Stapelias and their roots free of pests such as mealybugs is the key to success, as fungal attacks often result from damage to stems by insects.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapelia.
Origin
Stapelia gettleffii is native to the warmer, dry, sandy parts of the Limpopo River catchments in southeastern Botswana, the northern parts of South Africa, southern Zimbabwe, and just over the border into Mozambique to the east.
Links
- Back to genus Stapelia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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