Caralluma Schweinfurthii

Family

Asclepaidaceae

Native

South Africa

Description

Orbea caudata has five-pointed fleshy starry flowers produced in late Summer or Autumn. The blooms are delicate and beautiful but exude an intense smell of rotting meat. This perfume attracts blow flies which are the natural pollinators. It is a low clumping perennial succulent species that spread over the ground forming lax cushions. Plant to 9 cm tall and up to 20 cm in diameter. This species produces few flowers simultaneously in late summer to autumn. Following successful pollination of flowers pairs of seed horns are produced, packed with seeds attached to silky parachutes.

Environment

Orbea plants prefer early morning or late afternoon sun. They will require much water and soaking the pots. They will tolerate very hot weather outdoors as long as they are kept in filtered light and this will encourage them to flower in the Autumn. They also enjoy some fertilizer.
As soon as they are flowered be sure to take extra precautions to keep them dry, because damp cool conditions when the plants are resting is an invitation to fungal infections

Since roots are quite shallow, use a cactus mix or add extra perlite or pumice to regular soil potting soil. A gritty, very free-draining compost is suitable, and clay pots help the plants to dry out between watering. Re-pot every 1 year.

Landscape Uses

Makes an attractive landscape plant and grasslands or pampas, on plains and walls It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small.