Stapelia – Hairy and Smelly
07 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in 1. Cactus and Succulent Tags: Carrion, My garden, Plant Collection, Stapelia, Starfish Flower, Succulent
Our Stapelia plant is flowering. The flowers are star-shaped, hairy and smell like rotting flesh. The colour is dark red like the colour of meat. Though the smell is not as strong as Corpse flower (Titan arum), it is good enough to fool some flies. Flies think that the flower is some kind of rotting carcass, so they lay their eggs/maggots inside the flower. So the missions are accomplished for the plant! The flies have helped the flower with polination. When I took the pictures yesterday, I saw tiny maggots near the stamens inside the flower. Not very long they will die as there are nothing for them to eat in there, within 3 or 4 days the flower will also wilt away.
Stapelia Plant
- Stapelia is originally from southern Africa and also known as Carrion or Starfish flowers.
- There are about 40 species.
- It is succulent plant and not a cactus.
- Attractive fleshy, smooth and spineless velvety long stems which can grow to about 20 cm long. Green or grey-green with purple tinge in colour.
- Large flowers and the flower buds grow like balloons before they open.
- The flowers are hairy, mostly are 5 points starshaped. Once open, they will last for a few days (3-4 days).
- The flowers come in many different colours: dark red/maroon, yellow, cream, greenish or spotted/mottled.
- It needs similar growing requirements as other succulents. Sandy but rich well drain soil.
- Full sun position, keep in sunny place indoor in winter.
- Much less water during cold season.
- Liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
Stapelia Flower Bud
Stapelia sp. just about to open.
Star-shaped Stapelia sp.
A fly is attracted to the flower.
Maggots inside the flower.
The Amazing Wonder of Nature….. Sometimes it is just bizarre!
Porkbush the Elephant Food
03 Jul 2010 3 Comments
in 1. Cactus and Succulent Tags: Elephant Bush, Elephant Food, My garden, Pork Bush, Portulacaria afra, Succulent
To think about this dainty succulent plant is very amusing as it has unusual names. Portulacaria afra is also commonly known as Elephant Bush, Elephant Food or Porkbush. The Dutch name is Spekboom and it also means Bacon Tree. No resemblance at all to bacon, pork or pigs 
, this sprawling succulent is quite small. I imagine an elephant can eat this poor plant in a matter of a second. But I guess elephants like it because of the tender, fleshy and juicy foliage. After an elephant devoured it almost to the ground level, I think this hardy plant will quickly grow new shoots.
Portulacaria afra is native to South Africa and can grow up to 4 meters if left grown in the ground, but it will stay relatively small if grown in pots. Although it is a very good plant for bonsai, I have never tried to grow it as a bonsai.
Just like any other succulent, this Elephant bush plant is quite hardy and it needs well drain soil and full sun exposure. It will grow well if watered regularly in hot weather and during cold weather it only needs to be watered when the soil is dry. I apply a small amount of complete fertilizer to keep this plant happy. If you live in a very cold area, it is better to grow this plant in a pot or container so it can be brought inside during heavy frost. I read that this plant has small pinkish white flowers similar to Jade (Crassula ovata), but the ones I have never flower at all.
As it resembles to miniature type of Jade or Money Plant (Crassula ovata), some people also call it Lucky Plant.
Crassula ovata, the Fat Plant
01 Nov 2009 3 Comments
in 1. Cactus and Succulent Tags: Crassula ovata, Jade, Money Tree, Plants, Succulent
One day my hubby said that I should trim the fat plants along the driveway. Ha….. fat plants? I had no idea what he was talking about. Actually, he was talking about Jade plants. Why? He reckoned because it had rounded fleshy leaves and thick fat soft trunks.
Jade plant is also commonly known as lucky plant, money plant, friendship tree and the botanical nama is Crassula ovata (or Crassula arborescens, Crassula argentea, Crassula portulacea). Native to South Africa, this big succulent plant can grow higher than 1 m. It is very easy to grow and to propagate by cutting the branch/stem or leaf cutting. Most species of C. ovata will bear pinkish white small starry flowers that cover the plant twice a year during early winter and early summer. It has few different varieties: jade green colour or variegated ( double colour of green and creamy yellow, green and orange red or tri colour of green, creamy yellow and red). There is also dwarf variation which has smaller leaves. I notice that the colour of jade foliage can change according to the season. In the heat of summer they tend to be more colourful with more prominent red margin.
To flower fully, it has to be grown in full sun. If grown in shady area it tends to grow very green with less or no flowers at all, while in full sun the foliage will be slightly yellow with red margin/tinge around the edges.
As Jade plant has attractive folliage and thick shapely trunks, it is very suitable for Bonsai. To make the jade bonsai nice and compact, it is important to pinch the new leaves during the growing season to create new branches to develop.
Growing jade plant is very easy and versatile for any garden with warmer climate. If grown on the ground and once established, they will prefer to be left alone and no need to water. Only if it is grown in containers, it will need water once the soil is becoming dry and it will need a little fertilizer to make it grow better.
Many Asian people believe that putting jade trees near the door way will bring good luck and more money. I’m not really sure about it, only if you sell plants for a living then I believe that it can be true as you can easily propagate this plant, easier than any other plants that I know. When I trim our jade trees along the drive way, I also stick them in pots and later when they have grown, I just give them away to family and friends or anyone who are interested
Happy Gardening!!
