Starfish Cactus Orbea variegata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ceropegia variegata
- Stapelia variegata
- Phonetic Spelling
- ORB-ee-uh var-ee-GAY-tuh
- Description
-
Starfish Plant is a succulent plant with very large star-fish looking flowers in the dog bane family. It is native to southern Africa. Its other common name Carrion Flower comes from the fact that the flower has the odor of rotting meat. The flowers attract flies as pollinators. This drought tolerant plant is often used as a houseplant in colder climates.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Orbea
- Species:
- variegata
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Succulent
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 3" showy star-shaped flowers with five spotted maroon petals appear late summer to fall.
-
-
Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- 4 angled erect fleshy gray-green stems. Turn red in full sun.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Malodorous
