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gigantea succulent Shop 'Carrion Plant - Stapelia gigantea' Care and Growing Guide

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Description

gigantea succulent Shop 'Carrion Plant - Stapelia gigantea' Care and Growing GuideThe Carrion plant, known as Stapelia gigantea, is known for having the largest flowers of almost any succulent in the world. Native to South Africa, the Stapelia gigantea has several other common names, such as carrion flowers, starfish plant, starfish flower, toad plant, and zulu giant plant. The term "carrion" is used to describe the unpleasant, foul odor associated with decaying flesh. This Stapelia gigantea gets its common name because its flowers

The Carrion plant, known as  Stapelia gigantea, is known for having the largest flowers of almost any succulent in the world. Native to South Africa, the Stapelia gigantea has several other common names, such as carrion flowers, starfish plant, starfish flower, toad plant, and zulu giant plant.

The term "carrion" is used to describe the unpleasant, foul odor associated with decaying flesh. This Stapelia gigantea gets its common name because its flowers emit a strong, unpleasant, carrion-like smell, which resembles rotting meat. The odor is what attracts flies and other pollinators in their natural habitat.

Stapelia gigantea is a spineless stem succulent that resembles a cactus; it can grow up to 2 feet tall and may form big clumps when growing up to 3 feet wide. These thick, fleshy stems are ribbed and have a green coloration, with some variations in shades. 

The Carrion has Huge Flowers 


The flowers of the Stapelia gigantea are large, about 15 inches, and star-shaped; they bloom during the fall.

They have pale yellow to reddish brown hues adorned with intricate patterns and markings. The petals are thick and fleshy, and they curve backward, giving the flowers a star-like appearance.

The carrion flowers smell like rotten flesh; although this sounds disgusting, it helps attract flies and other pollinators to the Stapelia gigantea.

Interestingly, it also looks like drying flesh peeling from the bone, and also fringes of soft white hairs on the corolla segments superficially resembling a layer of mold growing on rotting matter.  

The cluster of flowers arises near the base of a branch; on this carrion plant, the inflorescence had two buds with scale-like leaves at the base of the petioles.  

Despite their unusual smell, the flowers of the Stapelia gigantea can be quite beautiful and captivating. They are a testament to the diversity and uniqueness of nature. If you ever come across these flowers, be sure to take a moment to appreciate their intricate beauty, even if the smell might not be to everyone's liking! 

When and How to Water Your Carrion Plant 

The Carrion Plant is a highly drought-tolerant succulent, meaning it can store water in its thick stems and survive long dry spells. Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes with this plant, so it’s important to mimic its natural dry habitat by keeping watering minimal. The carrion plant prefers watering once every 2-3 weeks in the growing season, and once in 4-6 weeks during the dormant season.

In spring and fall, during the growing season, the carrion flower plant prefers watering once every 2–3 weeks is sufficient, but frequency should be adjusted depending on your conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and soil drainage. Using the soak and dry method, water thoroughly until excess drains out of the pot, then wait until the soil has completely dried before watering again. 

In winter, during the dormant season, the Carrion plant slows down its growth to watering once every 4–6 weeks, or even less, is usually enough. During this period, allow the soil to stay dry for extended periods, watering only when the stems show signs of dehydration, like slight wrinkling. Providing too much water in dormancy can lead to root rot, so it’s best to keep it on the drier side.

Light Requirements - Where to Place Your Carrion Plant

When growing your Stapelia gigantea indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light for 4-6 hours a day. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight, as the intense rays can scorch the leaves and cause damage to the carrion plant. If you notice that the stems are stretching or leaning toward the light source, it's a sign that it needs more light. In that case, you can consider supplementing with artificial grow lights to provide the necessary brightness. 

When growing outdoors, it works best in full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate some direct sunlight, especially during the morning or late afternoon, but it's best to avoid the scorching midday sun. A location with dappled sunlight or a spot under a tree that provides filtered light can be ideal for the carrion plant. Just make sure it still gets enough brightness to thrive. 

Remember, finding the right balance of light is crucial for the health of the Stapelia gigantea. Too much direct sunlight can cause sunburn and damage the plant, while insufficient light can lead to weak growth and poor blooming.

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs

The Carrion plant prefers a well-draining soil mix and should be fertilized once a year in spring. You can create a suitable blend by combining equal parts of potting soil, perlite, and coarse sand. Instead, make or buy a well-draining potting mix, or ideally, use our specialized succulent potting mix, opens in a new tab: Soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media that contains 5 natural substrates and mycorrhizae to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your succulent to thrive. 

The Stapelia gigantea carrion plant doesn't require frequent fertilization, but it can benefit from light feeding during the growing season. Fertilize once a year during the growing season in the spring with a balanced NPK fertilizer of about 5-10-5. Be cautious not to over-fertilize, as this can result in excessive growth with fewer blooms. This provides a slow-release source of nutrients and helps improve the overall soil structure. 

Hardiness Zone & More 

In the United States, this is mostly an indoor plant, but if you live in southern Florida or Hawaii, then you can cultivate it outdoors in USDA zones 10-12.

It can tolerate higher temperatures, but it's essential to provide some protection from the intense midday sun, especially in hotter climates.

In terms of humidity, the Stapelia gigantea can handle a range of humidity levels, but it appreciates moderate to high humidity.  

Remember to acclimate your Stapelia gigantea gradually when transitioning it from indoor to outdoor or vice versa. Sudden changes in temperature or light can stress your carrion plant. Take care to protect the plant from extreme weather conditions like frost or excessive heat. 

How to Grow the Best Carrion Plant Indoors

The Stapelia gigantea is native to warm, tropical regions, so it thrives in indoor environments where temperatures are consistently between 60°F and 80°F. It prefers bright, indirect light, so placing it near a window with filtered sunlight works well. In terms of humidity, this plant can tolerate average indoor humidity levels, but it appreciates a slightly higher humidity level. You can increase humidity by placing a tray of water near the plant or by using a humidifier. 

Wildlife - Carrion Flowers Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators

Carrion flowers attract flies, such as blow flies, flesh flies, and house flies, along with some beetles and even mosquitoes. These pollinators are drawn to the flowers' foul smell, mimicking the scent of decaying flesh.

According to the ASPCA, the Carrion Plant (Stapelia gigantea) is mildly toxic to humans and animals if ingested, and its sap can cause skin irritation, so it should be handled with care and kept out of reach of children and pets. 

How to Propagate Your Stapelia gigantea

To propagate your Stapelia gigantea, you can easily do so by taking stem cuttings from a healthy plant. Make sure the cutting has calloused over before planting it in well-draining soil, and keep it in a warm, bright location to encourage root growth. Water sparingly until roots have established, and soon you will have a new plant ready to thrive in your collection. 

Key Takeaways

  1. The Carrion Plant produces some of the largest flowers in the succulent world, often reaching up to 12 inches across.
  2. Its blooms release a distinct carrion-like odor, which attracts flies for pollination—an unusual but fascinating survival strategy.
  3. The flowers are hairy, star-shaped, and leathery, making them look almost unreal, like something from another world.
  4. As a drought-tolerant succulent, it thrives on neglect and prefers the “soak and dry” method of watering.
  5. Instead of bees or butterflies, this Carrion plant relies mostly on flies and beetles to pollinate its massive blooms.

The Bottom Line 

Overall, the Stapelia gigantea (Carrion plant) is unique and captivating, with its large, star-shaped flowers that have a distinctive carrion-like scent, hence known as carrion flowers. It is a low-maintenance succulent plant that thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. The Stapelia gigantea is also known for its ability to attract pollinators like flies, making it a great addition to any garden or indoor collection. 

So, if you're looking for a striking and low-maintenance succulent for your rock gardens, the Carrion Plant Stapelia gigantea is definitely worth considering! 

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Laurie Macarthur
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
The Pope Preaches of Peace-Not Surprising
Format: Kindle
This collection of homilies were delivered before Pope Leo’s comments regarding the war in Iran. They reflect that he is, and should be, an advocate for world peace.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 1
Only buy this book if you like right wing politics. Otherwise you’ll hate it.
Format: Hardcover
I would definitely choose a different book about Pope Leo. The first thing I noticed when this $32 “Definitive Biography” arrived was how thin it was. I opened it up to large writing and big margins. Definitive biography? $32? Then he spends the first 3 chapters bashing Pope Francis. It’s right wing politics. He even talks about Democrats wanting to pack the U.S Supreme Court! We all know it’s packed with conservatives from Trump. He finally gets to talking about Leo in Chapter 5 - but the first paragraph in that chapter bashes Francis! I’m trying to read more but he keeps adding little digs about Francis. The author appears to keep praising “traditionalists” but how is it traditional to bash the pope? John Paul II and Benedict were too conservative for me but I still respected the Holy Fathers, just disagreed. So I looked up the author and saw “Heritage Foundation,” “Hoover Institute,” and “Newsmax contributor” by his name. I didn’t want to buy a political book! I don’t usually write reviews on Amazon but felt I had to in this case for this overpriced political spiel…
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2026
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Larry Gilstrap
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Fascinating, enlightening, troubling
Format: Paperback
55 pages into the book: So far the author (Schoch) has done a very good job of conveying background information on the statues of Easter Island (along with their mysterious Rongorongo script), the dating of the Great Sphinx (in Egypt) to a time millennia before the usually given orthodox figure of 2650 B.C.E., and on the significance of the findings at Gobekli Tepe, which have been dated to 10,000 B.C.E to about 8,000 B.C.E. But the author's style of including anecdotes from his personal and professional life, which do have bearing on the subject matter, provides for a more enriching reading experience. He points out the humanity of scientists, which we and they often need to keep in mind when considering their pronouncements. And while the book is very well written, and the author is extremely competent in his field (Geology), one or two technical misstatements may be found in these pages. What caught my attention was the statement that by facing due East, the Great Sphinx was also facing the Vernal Equinox. The sentence was unqualified, giving readers the impression that the Vernal Equinox is always, at all times, due East. It is not. Rather, the V.E. (the point on the Ecliptic where the Sun's yearly progress transitions from the southern celestial hemisphere, to the northern) rises and sets every day, just like every other point on the celestial equator, as seen from Earth. But this is a fairly minor annoyance which does not diminish the overall thesis in the least. And it is a pleasure to read from a scientist who dares to follow the evidence where it leads, instead of where orthodoxy, the status quo, and politicians would rather it go. In Forgotten Civilization, Schoch is tying together a number of disparate subjects which have fascinated me for the past forty years - ancient civilization and technology, astronomical catastrophies, the environmental history of the earth and its impact on the evolution of human beings. Much of my fascination with ancient enigmas began with Chariots of the Gods by Erich von Daniken, but Schoch is approaching the same set of mysteries armed with the tools of legitimate science, and not reaching for outlandish theories when the evidence does not demand he do so. In writing as a traditionally trained scientist, following the path of reason and insight, I feel greater confidence that the material presented is trustworthy, and will not be a waste of time or effort as I continue reading this excellent volume. Addendum (2013/04/12) - Finished reading the book, and am left both excited, energized and very concerned. The main thesis of the book is that one or more major solar outbursts (Coronal Mass Ejection [CME] and/or Solar Proton Events [SPE]) impacted the Earth about 12,000 years ago (c. 9700 BCE) effectively bringing the last true ice age - the Younger Dryas - to an end. As fascinating, and explanatory as this assertion is, the author suggests that we are entering a time of similar solar behavior, implying that we, too, may be the recipients of our own solar outburst, resulting in the end of civilization as we know it. Schoch (the author) backs up his hypothesis with a fair amount of evidence provided along somewhat tenuous lines of evidence, which added together build a fairly strong case. The most direct evidence are the isotope levels of Beryllium-10 contained in the Greenland ice core samples dating back to that time, which suggest a sudden influx of cosmic rays associated with a major solar event. Other evidence cited includes the vitrified ("melted into glass") rocks and castles found around the world. And while I'm not used to thinking of castles dating back to the last ice age, it is often suggested by archeologists that succeeding ancient cultures often reused existing sites left behind by preceding cultures. However, there are ancient Indian / Sanskrit accounts of flying houses armed with apparently nuclear missiles, which seemed to have occurred thousands of years before the current thread of civilization begins. Additionally, Schoch has a tendency to see solar outburst evidence in some very ambiguous situations. Intrigued by the Rongorongo script on Easter Island, the good Doctor's wife suggested the character forms were similar to petroglyphs shown in the video "Symbols of an Alien Sky". To be fair, one classic figure, known as the Squatter Man, does bear an astonishing similarity to one of the Z-Pinch instabilities described by plasma physicist, Anthony L. Peratt. Indeed Peratt himself had noticed that many petroglyphs found around the world looked very much like what one might see if a huge plasma discharge from the Sun impacted our atmosphere. The upshot of all of this is that Schoch succeeds in proving his case. And he does so with a brilliant display of disparate data from an array of scientific fields and endeavors. The ambiguities which caused me some doubts seem to be the way that science actually advances. It seems that intuition and inspiration are the first step in recognizing a potential truth, however much dismissed by the orthodox scientific community. In one of five excellent appendix articles, Schoch explains the reality of orthodoxy and politics in the scientific establishment, and how inertia, intransigence, and censorship serve vested personal interests at the expense of truth and progress. Given the wealth of ideas and information presented, and the nearly overabundant food for thought contained in this modest volume, it seems impossible to do full justice to Schoch's work, without a review nearly as long as the book itself. It is far easier to simply read for one's self, to get the fullest sense of what may be the ultimate history lesson.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2013
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isabella
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Review of new and cutting edge perspective by a credible source
Unexpectedly chatty, like a fireside conversation, but Robert Bloch brings the same open mindedness and lack of fear of entrenched mainstream academics to the idea that maybe a massive Solar Flare caused and extinction of much of life about 12,000 yrs ago, that he brought to the updating of the age of the Sphinx. He does tend to jump about in order to incorporate several subjects, and the open mindedness does lead him to be willing to discuss some pretty hairy and unlikely theories, but to his credit his dismissal of the silliest of them is courteous and gentle; very unlike the usual ad hominem viciousness we see. Unfortunately, he doesn't bring the same degree of hard science to some of the ideas like, for example, his wifes' "G! theory". (Has anyone measured H2 atoms to see if they are floating off into space Robert?). However, he does one thing for me I always very much enjoy - he brings new information that informs and sends you running for text books in order to fully understand. His hard science knowledge of what constitutes solar and cosmic rays, their magnetic and electrical functions, is like a full on first year college course. (Incidentally bringing yet more hard science to blow away the stupid AGW theories of Algore and IPCC). If you are into learning some hard facts to explain what might have happened 12,000 yrs ago and what helped to bring us to where we are now, it's an excellent full on read.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2014
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Verified Purchase
Sailorman
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
A Fascinating and Engaging Read
Format: Paperback
This book was published in 2012. When it first came on the market I was intrigued by the title “Forgotten Civilizations” and it was written by Dr. Robert F. Schoch, one of the authors that I revere as a brilliant scientist and intellectual with one of the most open minds to alternate explanations of mainstream scientific paradigms in the modern scientific community. But the remainder of the title, “The Role of Solar Outburst in Our Past and Future”, kind of turned me off, as I assumed this was just another December 21, 2012 doomsday book, and after reading scare books on the coming computer disaster of the millennium change from 1999 to 2000, and several books on the coming Armageddon in 2012, where in both cases nothing happened, I was burnt out on doomsday prognostications. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This book is absolutely fascinating. I think that Graham Hancock, Andrew Collins, Robert Schoch, and other researchers and authors have adequately explained the cause of the Younger Dryas ice age, that began in 10900 BCE, as being caused by a comet impacting the northern hemisphere of earth, but speculation of what caused the end of it, about 9700 BCE, always appeared to be a pretty weak arguments to me. Here I think Dr. Schoch has nailed a very likely cause, and he has the data to back it up, with clues left from Easter Island through western United States to the middle east of something catastrophic happening in the skies 11,700 years ago. Dr. Schoch typically follows the data no matter where it leads him, even if to controversial conclusions (i.e. the Great Sphinx is much older that the Egyptian civilization, possibly 10,000 to 12,000 years old). In Chapters #7 and #8 Dr. Schoch provides a detailed history of the sun’s activity to as far back as records have been kept and as deep as ice cores and tree rings can provide empirical data. He documents the sun’s activity and the corresponding periods of abrupt and severe climate change that occurred during periods of high solar activity. Schoch points out that “our sun has been more active over the last few decade (since about the middle of the twentieth century) than it has been for thousands of years previously”. He goes on to say, “the current overall level of solar activity is the highest it has been since about 9500 BCE to 9000 BCE, near the end of the last ice age!” And, “the level of solar activity during the past 70 years is exceptional, and the previous period of equally high activity occurred more than 8,000 years ago”. Global warming? Ya think? And Schoch points out that throughout history periods of abrupt and severe climate change occur during periods of high solar activity. In Chapter #8 Dr. Schoch discusses the science of “Cosmoclimatology”, the study if how the sun, planets, our solar system, and even events that happen in deep space and in other solar systems, can have an impact on earth. It sounds fishy but Dr. Schoch shows where “changes in greenhouse gases have been correlated with global temperature changes for hundreds of thousands – even millions – of years, long before humans could conceivably have been causing such changes. Indeed, increases in carbon dioxide may in part be a consequence of global warming rather than the cause (Ferreyra 2011). Increases in temperature due to other factors (such as increases in solar activity) may warm the oceans, for instance, resulting in the releases of carbon dioxide and the inability to absorb more carbon dioxide; once the carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, it may further reinforce global warming.” I’m trading my Toyota Prius in on the biggest pollution belching SUV I can find. Dr. Schoch points out that, Ilya G. Usoskin, “found that periods of higher solar activity and lower cosmic ray flux tend to be associated with warmer climate and vice versa”, and, “Il-Hyun Cho and colleagues have found additional evidence that solar activity can directly affect the weather and climate on earth.” Research shows that the earth experienced “hot house” conditions around 500, 375, 250, and 100 million years ago and “icehouse” conditions with periodic glaciations around 450, 300, and 150 million years ago. Dr. Schoch says, “According to the new paradigm of Cosmoclimatology (research shows) solar and galactic influences can have major effects on the climate of earth.” Chapter #12 provides a detailed description of “The Carrington Event”, something I have never heard of before and found fascinating. The Carrington Event deserves a book on its own. Perhaps there is one or Dr. Schoch will write one. The Carrington Event occurred in 1859 when a solar outburst hit the earth like a tidal wave hitting an island, seriously disrupting electrical distributions and communication systems (telegraph) of the time. Dr. Schoch then goes into describing the impact of a similar or greater intensity solar outburst on today’s electrical distribution systems, communication systems, satellites, pipelines, railroads, etc. It’s happened before and if it would happen again today, it could spoil your whole afternoon. In the last few chapters Dr. Schoch, investigates some new age alternate explanations that challenge the mainstream scientific paradigms in the scientific community. Things like extremely low frequency electromagnetic waves, sound waves, water memory, Zep Tepi, telepathy, levitation, etc. Some of this stuff, like Edgar Chase the “Sleeping Prophet”, I have trouble with, but who am I to debate Dr. Schoch? As I said earlier, Schoch is a scientist with an open mind who does not reject all theories deemed “pseudoscience” out of hand, but rather keeps an open mind, and considers all ideas. There are five appendixes (26 pages) that should not be skipped, as they are all very interesting and contribute to the understanding of the book. The only thing negative I can say about Dr. Schoch’s book is that, while Dr. Schoch has done rigorous research and has an extensive bibliography, he has listed his references in parentheses in the text rather than footnotes or numeric references to notes or the bibliography. That, along with Dr. Schoch’s liberal use of parentheses, to add additional information, I found broke my train of thought, and was annoying at first, and maddening by the time I got to the end of the book. Thus four and a half stars rounded to five, but four and a half stars certainly does not reflect the excellent quality and content of the information contained in this book. If you’re into this stuff like I am I think you will like this book, but if you are a liberal, closed mind, man-made global warming zealot, you ain’t gonn’a exactly fall in love with this book, and you might want to pick up some of Al Gore’s scientific work.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2017

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