Starfish plant is a succulent plant with very large starfish-looking flowers in the dogbane family. It is native to southern Africa and commonly found along the coast of southwestern South Africa. Its other common name Carrion Flower comes from the fact that the flower has the odor of rotting meat. This drought-tolerant plant is often used as a houseplant in colder climates. It was introduced into cultivation in Europe in 1639, after the Dutch had founded a settlement in Cape Town, by a Dutch missionary, Justus Heurnius. The plant has soft stems that are erect or prostrate and will form large clumps as it matures. The scent of the flowers attracts flies and other insects for pollination. The stems are sprawling, grayish-green with vertical rows of toothy projections. In full sun, the stems become mottled with purple. The flowers are 2 to 2.5 inches across and have five pointed lobes that are starfish-like. The flower has a greenish-yellow background with a chocolate-purple pattern and brown blotches. It blooms in late summer or fall. When the plant is pollinated, it develops dark green mottled follicles that are 5 inches long. When the follicles mature, they dry and split open and release many small seeds that are dispersed by the wind. The starfish plant is fast growing and matures to a height of 4 inches because of its reclining habit and spreads out up to 20 inches or more. It prefers light shade to full sun and is hardy in zones 9b to 11b. It does not require frequent watering and will store water in the stems for its dormant season. Sandy well-drained soil is also required. It is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Quick ID Hints: succulent matures to 4 inches tall and 20 inches wide erect, prostrate, clump of soft stems stems are sprawling, grayish-green with vertical rows of toothy projections flowers have 5 pointed lobes that are starfish-like flower has greenish background with a chocolate purple pattern if pollinated, produces dark green mottled follicle that measure 5 inches long Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The starfish plant is generally resistant to most insect pests and diseases. Monitor for mealybugs and scales that are common succulent pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The plant has no true leaves but has toothy projections from the stem that makes it appear spiny.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
2 to 2.5 inch, showy, star-shaped flowers with five spotted maroon petals appear late summer to fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
A pollinated flower develops a pair of erect, cylinder follicles that are dark green and mottled with pale green. They measure 5 inches long. Once mature, they are dry and split open to release many small seeds. The seeds have tufts of hairs that cause them to be easily dispersed by the wind.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
4 angled erect fleshy gray-green stems. Turn purple in full sun.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa--Cape Provinces
Distribution
Queensland, South Australia, and Spain
Play value
Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants
Garden tags
#showy flowers #drought tolerant #large flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #malodorous #houseplant #succulent #full sun tolerant #prostrate #fast growing