Carrion Flower
Sources last read 14 September 2026.
Not yet rated How forgiving it is has not been judged here yet.
Also called Carrion Plant, Giant Toad Plant, Giant Zulu, Starfish Cactus and Starfish Flower.
Toxicity is partly unassessed
- Not assessed for cats. This plant is not on the ASPCA list. That is not a finding of safety: none of the sources read for this site gives an answer either way. Treat it as unknown.
- Not assessed for dogs. This plant is not on the ASPCA list. That is not a finding of safety: none of the sources read for this site gives an answer either way. Treat it as unknown.
- Not assessed for people. NC State Extension publishes no harm statement for this plant. That is not a finding of safety: none of the sources read for this site gives an answer either way. Treat it as unknown.
What the sources say about its care
- Light
- Full sun, Partial ShadeNC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Water
- Good Drainage, MoistNC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Humidity
No source read publishes a humidity figure for any plant on this site. What follows is general guidance for foliage plants.
Most foliage plants prefer more humidity than a heated room gives; succulents are named as an exceptionPenn State Extension · read 13 September 2026- Soil
- Loam (Silt), Sand; pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Toxic to cats
- Not on the ASPCA list. That is not a finding of safety.ASPCA · read 13 September 2026
- Toxic to dogs
- Not on the ASPCA list. That is not a finding of safety.ASPCA · read 13 September 2026
- Harmful to people
- No record of poisoning in people is listed for this plant; that absence is not evidence it is safe.NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
Routine care
- Watering
- Let the growing medium dry out before watering again.NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Repotting
- It prefers being rootbound, so a new pot may be needed only roughly every 2 to 3 years. Propagate from seed or stem cuttings.NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Propagation
- It prefers being rootbound, so it may need repotting only once every 2 or 3 years. Seeds or stem cuttings can be used for propagation.NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
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Photographs
About the plant
Stapelia grandiflora is a species of flowering plant in the genus Stapelia of the family Apocynaceae. It is commonly referred to as the carrion plant, starfish flower, giant toad plant, or starfish cactus, although it is not related to cacti at all. This "carrion plant" nickname can also refer to similar Stapelia species as well as members of related genera, including Stapelia gigantea and Orbea variegata. Stapelia grandiflora sometimes also goes by the name of Stapelia flavirostris. The plant is native to South Africa, including the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Free State.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · read 13 September 2026
- Native range
- S. AfricaWorld Checklist of Vascular Plants, June 2026 release, CC BY.Kew WCVP · read 13 September 2026South AfricaNC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Climate
- desert or dry shrublandWorld Checklist of Vascular Plants, June 2026 release, CC BY.Kew WCVP · read 13 September 2026
- Growth form
- succulent subshrubWorld Checklist of Vascular Plants, June 2026 release, CC BY.Kew WCVP · read 13 September 2026Herbaceous Perennial, Succulent; habit dense, erect, multi-stemmed, spreadingNC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Size
- Height 3–12 in; width 12–36 inNC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Flowering
- Flowers brown/copper, purple/lavender, red/burgundy; blooms in fall, summerNC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
Other Stapelia
More of the Apocynaceae family
HoyaDry scorched spots after a move into a sunnier spot
Madagascar periwinkleBrown, papery patches on the leaves nearest the glass
OleanderBrown brittle margins with a green centre
String of heartsNew leaves arrive smaller and paler than the ones below
AllamandaSourced care, difficulty not yet judged
Carrion CactusSourced care, difficulty not yet judged
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Sources
- ASPCA · read 13 September 2026
- Kew WCVP · read 13 September 2026
- NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Penn State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Wikipedia · read 13 September 2026
What this does not cover
The figures above are what published sources say, not measurements of the plant in your room. They say nothing about your pot size, your water, the season, or how far from the glass the plant stands, and those decide more than any figure here does.
Humidity has no species figure because no source read for this site publishes one, and the only temperature published for this plant is a cold floor. The simulator fills those gaps with general figures for its kind of plant, marked as general and listed on how we read sources. Where a toxicity row says the plant was not assessed, that is the absence of a finding and not a finding of safety.
If something is already wrong, the diagnosis tool asks about the soil, the window and the watering, which is where the answer usually is.