Stapelia flavopurpurea
| Light | Bright light with some protection from harsh midday sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in the growing season; keep nearly dry through winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Frost-tender; keep above about 8 °C (USDA zones 10–11) |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings (easy); also seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Stapelia flavopurpurea is a small clumping stem succulent in the Stapelia genus, native to arid parts of southern Africa. It is unusual among its relatives for its charming little star-shaped flowers, which are lemon-yellow with a wrinkled maroon-red centre and — most remarkably — carry a genuinely pleasant, sweet scent rather than the notorious carrion smell of most carrion flowers.
Description
Stapelia flavopurpurea forms low, spreading clumps of soft, four-angled green stems, often flushed reddish or greyish in strong light. The stems are relatively slender and toothed along their angles, branching from the base to build up a mat over time.
The flowers are the main event. Small for the genus — typically only about a centimetre across — they are five-pointed stars of bright yellow, sometimes with slightly reflexed lobes, and a finely wrinkled maroon to purple-red corona at the centre. Unlike the large giant carrion flowers that mimic rotting meat to attract flies, the blooms of S. flavopurpurea give off a soft, honey-like or waxy fragrance, making this one of the few genuinely sweet-smelling species in the group. Flowering generally occurs in the warmer months.
Distribution and habitat
The species is found across dry regions of southern Africa, including Namibia and parts of South Africa, where it grows in open, arid scrub and rocky ground. In habitat it typically shelters among low shrubs and stones that provide dappled shade and a little protection from the fiercest sun, rooting into sharply drained gritty soils.
Cultivation
Like most stapeliads, S. flavopurpurea is easy and rewarding provided it is kept on the dry side. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a shallow pot, in bright light with a little shade from intense afternoon sun to keep the stems from scorching. Water moderately while the plant is in active growth and the mix has dried out, then reduce watering sharply as temperatures fall — the plants are prone to rot if kept wet and cold.
It is frost-tender and should be overwintered warm and nearly dry. Good airflow helps prevent the stem base from rotting, which is the single most common cause of loss. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is easiest from stem cuttings. A detached segment should be left to callus for several days, then set on top of a gritty mix and kept barely moist until it roots — see Propagation — cuttings. Clumps can also be divided when repotting. The species sets seed as well, borne in the paired horn-like follicles typical of the family; sow the plumed seed fresh on a mineral surface (see Propagation — seed).
Common problems
- Basal rot — by far the usual killer, brought on by overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or cold wet conditions in winter; affected stems go soft, translucent and blacken.
- Mealybugs — white cottony clusters hide in stem crevices and at the roots; check regularly (see Pests and diseases).
- Shrivelling — soft, wrinkling stems usually mean either underwatering in the growing season or, more often, a rotted root system no longer taking up water.
See also
- Stapelia — the genus overview
- Propagation — cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Pests and diseases