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world's largest succulent Shop 'Carrion Plant - Stapelia gigantea' Care and Growing Guide

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Description

world's largest succulent Shop 'Carrion Plant - Stapelia gigantea' Care and Growing GuideThe Carrion plant, known as Stapelia gigantea, is known for having the largest flowers of almost any succulent in the world. Native to South Africa, the Stapelia gigantea has several other common names, such as carrion flowers, starfish plant, starfish flower, toad plant, and zulu giant plant. The term "carrion" is used to describe the unpleasant, foul odor associated with decaying flesh. This Stapelia gigantea gets its common name because its flowers

The Carrion plant, known as  Stapelia gigantea, is known for having the largest flowers of almost any succulent in the world. Native to South Africa, the Stapelia gigantea has several other common names, such as carrion flowers, starfish plant, starfish flower, toad plant, and zulu giant plant.

The term "carrion" is used to describe the unpleasant, foul odor associated with decaying flesh. This Stapelia gigantea gets its common name because its flowers emit a strong, unpleasant, carrion-like smell, which resembles rotting meat. The odor is what attracts flies and other pollinators in their natural habitat.

Stapelia gigantea is a spineless stem succulent that resembles a cactus; it can grow up to 2 feet tall and may form big clumps when growing up to 3 feet wide. These thick, fleshy stems are ribbed and have a green coloration, with some variations in shades. 

The Carrion has Huge Flowers 


The flowers of the Stapelia gigantea are large, about 15 inches, and star-shaped; they bloom during the fall.

They have pale yellow to reddish brown hues adorned with intricate patterns and markings. The petals are thick and fleshy, and they curve backward, giving the flowers a star-like appearance.

The carrion flowers smell like rotten flesh; although this sounds disgusting, it helps attract flies and other pollinators to the Stapelia gigantea.

Interestingly, it also looks like drying flesh peeling from the bone, and also fringes of soft white hairs on the corolla segments superficially resembling a layer of mold growing on rotting matter.  

The cluster of flowers arises near the base of a branch; on this carrion plant, the inflorescence had two buds with scale-like leaves at the base of the petioles.  

Despite their unusual smell, the flowers of the Stapelia gigantea can be quite beautiful and captivating. They are a testament to the diversity and uniqueness of nature. If you ever come across these flowers, be sure to take a moment to appreciate their intricate beauty, even if the smell might not be to everyone's liking! 

When and How to Water Your Carrion Plant 

The Carrion Plant is a highly drought-tolerant succulent, meaning it can store water in its thick stems and survive long dry spells. Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes with this plant, so it’s important to mimic its natural dry habitat by keeping watering minimal. The carrion plant prefers watering once every 2-3 weeks in the growing season, and once in 4-6 weeks during the dormant season.

In spring and fall, during the growing season, the carrion flower plant prefers watering once every 2–3 weeks is sufficient, but frequency should be adjusted depending on your conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and soil drainage. Using the soak and dry method, water thoroughly until excess drains out of the pot, then wait until the soil has completely dried before watering again. 

In winter, during the dormant season, the Carrion plant slows down its growth to watering once every 4–6 weeks, or even less, is usually enough. During this period, allow the soil to stay dry for extended periods, watering only when the stems show signs of dehydration, like slight wrinkling. Providing too much water in dormancy can lead to root rot, so it’s best to keep it on the drier side.

Light Requirements - Where to Place Your Carrion Plant

When growing your Stapelia gigantea indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light for 4-6 hours a day. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight, as the intense rays can scorch the leaves and cause damage to the carrion plant. If you notice that the stems are stretching or leaning toward the light source, it's a sign that it needs more light. In that case, you can consider supplementing with artificial grow lights to provide the necessary brightness. 

When growing outdoors, it works best in full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate some direct sunlight, especially during the morning or late afternoon, but it's best to avoid the scorching midday sun. A location with dappled sunlight or a spot under a tree that provides filtered light can be ideal for the carrion plant. Just make sure it still gets enough brightness to thrive. 

Remember, finding the right balance of light is crucial for the health of the Stapelia gigantea. Too much direct sunlight can cause sunburn and damage the plant, while insufficient light can lead to weak growth and poor blooming.

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs

The Carrion plant prefers a well-draining soil mix and should be fertilized once a year in spring. You can create a suitable blend by combining equal parts of potting soil, perlite, and coarse sand. Instead, make or buy a well-draining potting mix, or ideally, use our specialized succulent potting mix, opens in a new tab: Soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media that contains 5 natural substrates and mycorrhizae to promote the development of a strong root system that helps your succulent to thrive. 

The Stapelia gigantea carrion plant doesn't require frequent fertilization, but it can benefit from light feeding during the growing season. Fertilize once a year during the growing season in the spring with a balanced NPK fertilizer of about 5-10-5. Be cautious not to over-fertilize, as this can result in excessive growth with fewer blooms. This provides a slow-release source of nutrients and helps improve the overall soil structure. 

Hardiness Zone & More 

In the United States, this is mostly an indoor plant, but if you live in southern Florida or Hawaii, then you can cultivate it outdoors in USDA zones 10-12.

It can tolerate higher temperatures, but it's essential to provide some protection from the intense midday sun, especially in hotter climates.

In terms of humidity, the Stapelia gigantea can handle a range of humidity levels, but it appreciates moderate to high humidity.  

Remember to acclimate your Stapelia gigantea gradually when transitioning it from indoor to outdoor or vice versa. Sudden changes in temperature or light can stress your carrion plant. Take care to protect the plant from extreme weather conditions like frost or excessive heat. 

How to Grow the Best Carrion Plant Indoors

The Stapelia gigantea is native to warm, tropical regions, so it thrives in indoor environments where temperatures are consistently between 60°F and 80°F. It prefers bright, indirect light, so placing it near a window with filtered sunlight works well. In terms of humidity, this plant can tolerate average indoor humidity levels, but it appreciates a slightly higher humidity level. You can increase humidity by placing a tray of water near the plant or by using a humidifier. 

Wildlife - Carrion Flowers Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators

Carrion flowers attract flies, such as blow flies, flesh flies, and house flies, along with some beetles and even mosquitoes. These pollinators are drawn to the flowers' foul smell, mimicking the scent of decaying flesh.

According to the ASPCA, the Carrion Plant (Stapelia gigantea) is mildly toxic to humans and animals if ingested, and its sap can cause skin irritation, so it should be handled with care and kept out of reach of children and pets. 

How to Propagate Your Stapelia gigantea

To propagate your Stapelia gigantea, you can easily do so by taking stem cuttings from a healthy plant. Make sure the cutting has calloused over before planting it in well-draining soil, and keep it in a warm, bright location to encourage root growth. Water sparingly until roots have established, and soon you will have a new plant ready to thrive in your collection. 

Key Takeaways

  1. The Carrion Plant produces some of the largest flowers in the succulent world, often reaching up to 12 inches across.
  2. Its blooms release a distinct carrion-like odor, which attracts flies for pollination—an unusual but fascinating survival strategy.
  3. The flowers are hairy, star-shaped, and leathery, making them look almost unreal, like something from another world.
  4. As a drought-tolerant succulent, it thrives on neglect and prefers the “soak and dry” method of watering.
  5. Instead of bees or butterflies, this Carrion plant relies mostly on flies and beetles to pollinate its massive blooms.

The Bottom Line 

Overall, the Stapelia gigantea (Carrion plant) is unique and captivating, with its large, star-shaped flowers that have a distinctive carrion-like scent, hence known as carrion flowers. It is a low-maintenance succulent plant that thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. The Stapelia gigantea is also known for its ability to attract pollinators like flies, making it a great addition to any garden or indoor collection. 

So, if you're looking for a striking and low-maintenance succulent for your rock gardens, the Carrion Plant Stapelia gigantea is definitely worth considering! 

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Rob
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Absolutely love it?
Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:12.99" x H:71.26", Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:12.99" x H:71.26"
Five-Star Review: Sauder Heritage Hill Library with Doors/Book Shelf I am genuinely impressed with this Sauder Heritage Hill Library. It combines classic style with practical storage, making it a standout addition to any living room or home office. Timeless Design:** The Classic Cherry finish exudes warmth and traditional charm. The molding, paneling, and overall silhouette instantly elevate the room’s decor, pairing well with both antique and contemporary furnishings. Generous Storage:** With a full bookcase on top and two doors below, there’s ample space for books, decorative accents, and office essentials. The combination of open shelving and enclosed storage helps keep the area tidy while still displaying favorite items. Perfect Dimensions:** Measuring L: 29.80" x W: 12.99" x H: 71.26", it fits nicely in a variety of spaces—from compact living rooms to home offices. It doesn’t overwhelm a room and still provides substantial storage. Solid Construction:** The piece feels sturdy and well-made. The materials and craftsmanship reflect Sauder’s reputation for durability, giving me confidence it will endure daily use for years. Easy Assembly:** While any bookshelf can be a bit of a project, the assembly process was straightforward with clear instructions. The hardware and fittings lined up as expected, and it came together without issue. Versatile Styling:** The neutral cherry finish blends with a range of color schemes—from rich burgundies and creams to soft grays and blues. It’s easy to accessorize with framed photos, lamps, and keepsakes. Practical Features:** The doors on the bottom are great for concealing clutter, while the open shelves top show off favorites. The overall footprint is efficient for maximizing storage without sacrificing style. Value:** Given the blend of classic aesthetics, functional shelving, and robust build, this is excellent value for money in its category. If you’re looking for a stylish, durable, and versatile library with doors that adds character and organized storage to your space, the Sauder Heritage Hill Library is a superb choice. Five stars from me. Highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2025
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david
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Nice Looking Bookshelf... Lots of Work to Assemble
Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:13.09" x H:71.26"
I specifically bought this bookshelf because I already have the Heritage Hill desk and lateral file cabinet, so natually this is the one I wanted to add to my office. LOOKS: This shelving unit has the same look as the other pieces to the Heritage Hill collection, so it fits in perfectly to the look of my office. STURDINESS: I'm not a big fan of the side panels because are not one continuous piece. It definitely is not very sturdy while you are trying to assemble it (more on that later) but once it is fully assembled and secured to the wall it seems very sturdy. I do not anticipate any issues. STABILITY: A wall anchoring bracket was included with the product, so when it's properly attached to a wall there will be no concerns over stability. They did not include a drywall anchor with the bracket, so unless you plan to screw this directly into a stud, you definitely need to have a drywall anchor on hand to use. ASSEMBLY: This is where it gets a little frustrating. I am no stranger to assembling pieces of furniture from kits like this. I understand why they have chosen to use the hidden screws and L-brackets everywhere, but it does add time on to the assembly. It probably took me about 90 minutes to assemble this product. The trim pieces that go on to the front of the shelves (around the sides, top, bottom, and fixed shelf) make the shelf look like a higher quality product, and the L-brackets you use to attach them have oval-shaped holes so that you can adjust the positioning of each piece of trim to make everything line up right. You can adjust the positioning so that you don't see any of the unfinished wood or have ugly gaps. Or so I thought! This trick worked fine for everything except the 3 adjustable shelves which also have a trim piece that go on the front, but for the life of me I could not get everything to line up properly. I read this in other reviews so I was prepared to do some troubleshooting and adjusting, but I could not get it to look right, so I just left these pieces off. You really don't need them. It makes the shelves easier to more around and it still looks great. The directions offer some "hints" on what to fix. There was a 1/4" gap between the edge of the shelf trim and the edge of the trim going down the side of the shelf. So the directions tell you to adjust the side pieces of trim to close the gap. Well the problem with doing that is after you adjust the side trim then the other edge of it no longer lines up properly with the edges of the trim piece of the fixed shelf. Another tip: You don't have to leave the thing laying on its back the whole time you are trying to screw in the hidden screws or the L-brackets. You can carefully rotate it onto each of its sides to complete the installation of all the trim pieces, and it actually makes it easier to make sure they are lined up properly to each other the first time. I was just careful doing this because it's not very sturdy while it's being constructed. They also include a touch-up marker in the package as well that really is the same color as the wood finish. I had a couple pieces that had minor scratches on them, probably from shipping. I had great luck with the marker by just coloring in all the scratches and then rubbing all around it with my finger. One larger spot needed this done about 3 times, but when I had finished, I really couldn't tell it was ever scratched, especially at the "normal viewing distance" I would normally see it from.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020
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EKCG
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Best DIY Bookshelf We've Gotten
Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:13.09" x H:71.26"
Just finished putting this together and we're fully impressed. The product itself is exactly what it says on the tin, looks just like the photos. It takes a little bit of extra effort from your standard DIY bookshelf just because it has some extra decorative pieces, but we think it's worth it and that's one of the reasons we picked it out. Did have a MINOR bit of confusion since some of the decorative pieces weren't labeled, but they were easy to identify with the instruction manual. Which, let me just say, this is clearly a company who has seen the problems in the DIY furniture industry and has actually taken HUGE strides to make the whole experience easier on the customer and make the product sturdier. There are no bamboo pegs that might not even fit into their assigned holes, no weird turn-to-lock things that may are may not be tight enough to not unlock themselves, no ten different pieces of tiny hardware that barely look different from each other, and NO ALLEN WRENCHES. The entire piece can be put together with a regular screwdriver and a hammer (or just the screwdriver if you can't find the hammer and are determined enough, since you only need the hammer to tack on the cardboard backing); and because the structure's entirely put together with screws and because it's actually separated into two pieces, it makes the entire structure way more stable than your standard DIY bookshelf. The instruction manual is also not only EXCEEDINGLY, PAINSTAKINGLY clear about which way each piece should be facing and what hole you should be screwing it into, spelling it out for you when they can't just point it out on the diagram, or sometimes even doing both; it also comes with a little pre-measured spacer that you can cut right out of it to help you center the moldings on the shelves just right. And just as the icing on the cake, they also include a marker in the color of the laminate to fill in accidental scratches. We are extremely happy with this bookcase, and we'll be looking at Sauder products for future DIY furniture needs.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2017
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Amazon Customer
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 1
To be fair this is the worst side the other side is about an eighth of ...
Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:13.09" x H:71.26", Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:13.09" x H:71.26"
I used to work at big box store some twenty years ago and there were two selling points for Sauder furniture at the time. The furniture was 3/4 inch particle board and ease of construction. Well neither of those are the case any longer. I am putting this together and the L brackets that Sauder provides are of the adjustable variety. This lets one slide the two wooden pieces so to obtain a match on their edges. Well in theory, in reality one cannot slide them far enough so one has a 1/4 inch mismatched edge. On part H which is a horizontal trim piece. It is not long enough to cover the trim pieces edges that are below it in the vertical. Those edges are raw wood, but do not worry Sauder has been kind enough to include a brown magic marker so I will be able to cover up that raw wood. I included a photo of one side. To be fair this is the worst side the other side is about an eighth of an inch. And to be even more fair, there should not be any raw wood showing. It is not very sturdy either, the only thing that makes it from really wobbling is the fiber board backing at the rear of the bookcase. My expectations when I bought this piece of furniture was not that great. I wanted to buy a piece of furniture that was fairly easy to put together. I also wanted a piece of furniture that looked okay. This piece of furniture achieved neither one, I would have been better off going to a second hand furniture store and buying a bookcase there. Even if I had to refinish the second hand bookcase it would of been less hassle then this thing. Oh, Sauder I do not want to see a response saying please contact us at 1-800 whatever. When do most people put this furniture together? I would hazard to guess the weekend. When is Sauder customer service open? I can tell you it is not the weekend. If you are thinking of buying this, I would think twice.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
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Amazon Customer
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect buy
Color: Classic Cherry, Size: L:29.80" x W:12.99" x H:71.26"
I absolutely love this bookcase. It’s stable. It has the perfect color. It’s the perfect height not too tall, but definitely not short. And if it’s perfectly in the corner of my room, the only issue I had with this is the assembly process. Definitely don’t recommend you assembling it on your own. Definitely having someone there to help you assemble it. It’s definitely something I would do. It stores a lot of books, but definitely follow the weight capacity. I didn’t follow the weight capacity and now I have slightly bent shelves. It has good stability.The value is fair for how long it lasts because I still haven’t and it’s still standing.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2026

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