Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-22-21, #849-22.
Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. After it was dark on Friday evening, I turned the light on the back porch to check on the bud on the Stapelia gigantea and measure it again. The last time I measured it a few days earlier it was 5 3/4″ long. Low and behold, one of the petals had opened and another one had started.
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-22-21, #849-23.
I checked on it several times during the night and there was no change.
THEN, THE NEXT MORNING…
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-23-21, #850-7.
Now, that is pretty exciting! Finally, after several years of buds falling off after I moved it in the house, it has bloomed!
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) at 13″ wide on 10-23-21, #850-8.
It measured 13″ wide…
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-23-21, #850-9.
You can read about these plants and watch videos, but seeing it in person is so much better. Those red lines are raised and they kind of remind me of ripples in a pond.
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-23-21, #850-10.
It is definitely hairy…
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-23-21, #850-11.
How neat is that?
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-23-21, #850-12.
SO, what does it smell like? When I first took a whiff I smelled nothing.
Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) on 10-23-21, #850-13..
Then at 4:30, I went to check again. I opened the sliding door and I could smell a faint odor. Naturally, I stuck my nose right in the flower, and HOLY CRAP! It truly does smell like rotting flesh. Honestly, I won’t be doing that again. I have smelled so bad stuff in my life, but that is one I definitely won’t forget. GEEZ!!! Hopefully, the Turkey Buzzards won’t come to my back porch. 🙂
Seriously, it made me remember everything bad I have ever smelled and they now seem pale in comparison. I am VERY thankful the temperatures have been mild enough I didn’t have to bring it in the house! GEEZ! 🙂
There is STILL no chance of an “F” in the forecast.
Until next time, be safe, stay positive, and always be thankful!
The Belmont Rooster 
That bloom is magnificent! You waited for years? Such loving patience. Thanks for the post.
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Hello Rose Marie! Well, it seems like years but I bought the cuttings in October 2018. It is pretty easy to grow and keep happy. I hope you are doing well. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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I started reading the paragraph where you talked about the flower having no smell to start with, and thought “hope he doesn’t stick his nose in it!”. Oh dear…. They do smell appalling, don’t they?
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Hello Kate! OH MY GOODNESS! Well, you know, I just had to give it a whiff. 🙂 I guess it is human nature that we have to touch and smell everything. Once is enough for this one. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Wow, wow wow!! Amazing 🤩
It’s very beautiful & alien.
Even the buds look so attractive
Glad I can see it & not smell it 😂
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Hello Debbie! It is definitely unique. You don’t want to take a whiff? I think you should get one for the experience. You will never forget it. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Fantastic! I had wondered how bad it smelt, so this has definitely answered that question 🤣🤣🤣
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Hello Allison! Yes, it is an awesome flower but the smell is not. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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I imagine its ‘fragrance’ is akin to the so-called corpse flower I got to experience in Houston. But never mind that — congratulations for tending it so carefully. Those blooms are a wonderful reward!
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Hello Linda! It probably does smell similar to the Corpse Flower. The smell will kind of disappear after a while, supposedly, but I am not going to take another whiff to find out. I will admire it from afar.:) Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Wow, that really is a giant–was not expecting that. The bloom is beautiful.
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Hello Suzassippi! The largest I have read about is 16″ but 13″ is still very big for a flower. Take care care and thanks for the comment!
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WOW! What a beauty! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
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Hello Linda! It certainly is. You and yours need a break. You could come here and see it for yourself and take a whiff. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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Totally cool! It would be worth the bad smell to have such blossoms around the house. Do they stay long. I have a cute little round cactus that blooms four or five times a year but the gorgeous blossoms only last for one day.
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Hello Anne Marie! I agree the flowers are worth putting up with the smell as long as they can stay outside. I am not sure how long the flowers will last because it is my first. Some information says 1 day, some say 2 or longer. We will just have to wait and see. Some of my cactus flowers last quite a while, while others if you miss them the first day, you are just out of luck. My Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii has had buds off and on but I have never seen its flowers open. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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