Stapelia Leendertziae
Stapelia Leendertziae is a spectacular and intriguing succulent belonging to the Apocynaceae family. Like many Stapelias, it is best known for its impressive and unusual flowers, but it also attracts attention with its fleshy habit and resilience. Its thick, quadrangular, upright stems resemble those of a cactus, although it is not one. They are green to slightly purplish under strong sunlight and can quickly form compact clumps.
The true star of this stapelia is its flowering. Stapelia Leendertziae produces huge bell-shaped flowers often exceeding 15 cm in diameter. Dark purple to reddish-brown in color, they are covered with fine hairs and emit a characteristic scent reminiscent of decaying meat. Although unpleasant to humans, this odor plays a crucial role: it attracts flies, the plant’s main pollinators.
🌤️ Bright indirect light: Ideal indoors near a bright window.
🌞 Gentle sun: A few hours of morning sun are beneficial.
⚠️ Warning: Too much direct sun can burn stems, while too much shade slows growth.
🌱 Spring / summer: Water every 2 to 3 weeks, allowing substrate to dry out.
🍂 Autumn / winter: Reduce significantly, sometimes once per month is enough.
⚡ Tip: Use a substrate enriched with perlite or pozzolana to ensure effective drainage.
🌞 Ideal: Between 20 °C and 28 °C.
❄️ Minimum: Tolerates occasional 5 °C but not frost.
🏠 Tip: In cold climates, grow in pots and bring indoors during winter.
🪨 Recommended substrate: Mix of cactus soil, coarse sand and fine gravel.
💡 Fertilizer: Light applications of liquid succulent fertilizer in summer stimulate flowering.
🌸 Period: Summer to early autumn.
🎨 Color: Large bell-shaped flowers, dark purple to reddish-brown.
🕑 Duration: Each flower lasts a few days, but several may appear successively.
