Stapelia gigantea

[Geoff]

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[mcvansoest]

In flower in my garden in September of 2015. The dog was very interested in it.

[mickthecactus]

This is a cutting from my original big plant which I almost lost a couple of years ago.

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[mickthecactus]

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This years seedlings

[toditd]

Don't forget to stop and smell the stepelia!

Stapelia gigantea - Boyce Thompson Arboretum 10-14-2017

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Stapelia gigantea - Boyce Thompson Arboretum 10-14-2017

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Stapelia gigantea - Boyce Thompson Arboretum 10-14-2017

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[mickthecactus]

I had a lovely hybrid where one of the parents was gigantea but lost it in my house move.
I did give some to Kew Gardens so they may still have a piece.

[RCDS66]

The blooms are 8-9 inches across but don't smell good at all.

[RCDS66]

Stapelia gigantea have a super fast growth rate in my area and are amongst the best performers.... they attract lot of house flies though

[RCDS66]

Stapelia gigantea has the ability to grow at locations where most other plants can not. I planted dozens of them in the rocks (actually just stuck a cutting in a rock hole or crevice without any soil / medium). Most plants would have not survived at those full sun rocky locations as the rocks get really hot in May and June but S. gigantea did.

No soil. Just stuck a cutting in a hole / small cut in the rock and it has started growing there. Portulacaria afra is another plants that can survive anywhere.

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The way they are growing, they should be decent plant in a year time, hanging high up in the rocks

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And where they get some soil, they grow huge.

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[mickthecactus]

Remarkable!

[mickthecactus]

Mine is too small to flower but has these lovely deep purple stems.

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[Niah]

Would love to see an update on how those planted into the rocks are doing! Has anyone successfully planted portulacaria afra into rock crevices?

[RCDS66]

Would love to see an update on how those planted into the rocks are doing!

Niah, they are doing ok. Since most of them in the rocks are growing without any soil and I don't water them too (only rains), they don't grow huge. However, they are all surviving at very difficult locations. Few pics to share.

This one, though planted in the rocks, has its roots in deep soil; hence the size

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Those shown below have been planted in the rock crevices, without any soil. I don't water them usually and they are rain fed. During harsh weather, those is sun turn purple, showing stress colors. But those planted in soil and watered regularly stay green, most of the time.

Surviving on the wall like rock with a Juniper and few wild grasses.

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Can you identify 6 Stapelia gigantea plants on this rock?

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Few closeups....

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Forming a nice clump, left of Euphorbia tirucalli

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Has anyone successfully planted portulacaria afra into rock crevices?

Portulacaria afra does very well in the rock crevices but does need some soil there. Without any soil, it barely survives. You can see the details in this thread.
https://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?p=91401#p91401
https://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.ph ... fra#p82557

Hope it helps.
Hamad