Herself's Houseplants

I love unusual plants and this one has the added benefit of being easy to grow. I’ve seen it in hanging pots where it spills over the sides and down about 4′. I’ve seen it in greenhouses, shaded and full sun, I have some in pots out back in full sun.

It is known as a carrion flower. The flower is scented to attract flies, it has a mild, distasteful smell, that is not noticeable after a few days. Unless you’re a fly.

It loves the sun, it loves when you forget to water it, it just doesn’t like the cold. It must be protected from freezing.

In the winter it will need lots of light, all you can give to it, and ease up on the watering or it will rot. It is very prone to root rot, water this plant sparingly.

Stapelia does best planted in sand so the water can rapidly drain and the soil dry.

This plant is native to parts of Africa and there are several sub-species with different sized, colored and shaped flowers.

Propagation:
Snap off a stalk and plant it. It’s that easy.

See also:
Plants of Africa: Stapelia
Floridata: Stapelia

Consider these fascinating succulent facts:* All cactuses are succulents, but not all succulents are cactuses.
* Most succulents have no leaves, only plump water-storing stems in various shapes and sizes. Leaves and branches are expressed in some succulents as spines – such as you find in cactuses.
* Spines or thorns protect cactuses from predators.
* Hairy succulents collect water by trapping dew.
* Agaves collect water by channeling it from their outstretched stems to the base.
* Barrel cactuses, with their pleated shapes, expand and contract depending on how much water they have stored.
* Waxy coatings on many succulent surfaces prevent the release of water back into the atmosphere.
* Many desert-adapted cactuses spread their roots wide just below the soil surface to catch and keep every raindrop that comes their way.
* The smaller a succulent is, the higher in elevation is its native habitat. You can find some sedums in alpine areas.
* Century plant is a misnomer. These plants actually bloom every 10 years or so.
is exposed to the sun.

More information:
Succulents | succulents, water, cactuses, desert cactus