Stapelia ~ Striking, If A Bit Stinky Show

In a small, terracotta planter,

a Stapelia plant has been growing in my garden for a number of years.

Maybe I imagine that it might have bloomed once before.

But did I jump up and down when I discovered this flower the other day?

Yes, there was a dance of sorts to witness had you been around.

Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens - Desert Garden

(Photo: Wikipedia)

More than a decade ago I visited the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens for the first time, touring the magnificent Desert Garden while

researching my book, Gardenwalks in California.

I'll never forget seeing a mass planting of Stapelia gigantea, with many of the large, strange blooms like starfish... resting on the earth. Each, perhaps 12 inches across.

My flower measures about 2 1/2 inches. I don't mind that it's tiny in comparison.

Also called the Carrion Flower, Stapelia has a reputation for being stinky

to attract flies that pollinate the plant.

Before opening, the flower's early stage begins as a strange, puffy pod-like form.

Altogether odd.

It's been one of my favorite, if all too rare, sights since entering the gardening realm.

Now my own pass-along plant has rewarded me after years of benign neglect.

Succulent plants are fascinating in their diversity. So unlike the beautiful blooms I generally cultivate. But Stapelia stands alone in my mind. I really couldn't conjure up a more intriguing flower form if I tried.