Tag Archives: Stapelia gigantea (Starfish Flower/Zulu Giant)

Something Died In My Bedroom…

Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, ETC.) on 11-1-23, #969-1.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. When I moved the plants inside I had to put the Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, ETC.) in my bedroom. I tried putting it on a table in front of the sliding door in the dining room but that didn’t work. Andrew’s cats took a special interest in the buds dangling beside the table. Nuff said…

The first bud opened on October 30 and I noticed no foul odor. I took the above photo on Wednesday, November 1 and you can see the second flower starting to open… Later in the afternoon when I tried to take my nap, it smelled like something had died. I thought this might happen, but since I didn’t notice the stink with the other flower I thought maybe the other one would be OK… WRONG!!! What could I do? I lit a candle and the smell was gone within 30 minutes.

OH, I have to tell you about a goof… I was working on the 10-24-23 Cactus and Succulent Update Part 3 in the wee hours of the morning and saved it to drafts and went to bed. When I went to finish, I noticed I had comments… Ummm… Instead of saving the post as I draft I accidentally published it before it was finished. I changed it to a draft so I could finish. I couldn’t very well trash it and start over since it already had comments. I changed the published date but since it was previously published… You know the story… So, if you want to have a look click on the link above or HERE… Thanks!

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, and always be thankful…

The Stapelia gigantea Flower…

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!