SKU: 15470611339
succulent plant with star shaped flower

succulent plant with star shaped flower Giant Toad Plant ‘Stapelia grandiflora’

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Description

succulent plant with star shaped flower Giant Toad Plant ‘Stapelia grandiflora’The Stapelia grandiflora, known as the Giant Toad Plant, is renowned for its unique star shaped Stapelia flowers, which exhibit both beauty and intrigue. The Giant Toad Plant is often referred to as the Carrion Flower due to the scent of its blooms, which mimic decaying flesh. Despite its unusual floral odor, the plant is prized for its striking starfish like flowers and is a conversation starter in any garden or indoor collection. Native to South

The Stapelia grandiflora, known as the Giant Toad Plant, is renowned for its unique star-shaped Stapelia flowers, which exhibit both beauty and intrigue. The Giant Toad Plant is often referred to as the Carrion Flower due to the scent of its blooms, which mimic decaying flesh. Despite its unusual floral odor, the plant is prized for its striking starfish-like flowers and is a conversation starter in any garden or indoor collection.  

Native to South Africa, it has several other common names such as starfish flower, starfish cactus, Giant zulu, or Carrion flower. Its ability to thrive with minimal care adds to its appeal for both beginners and experienced gardeners. 

The Stapelia grandiflora is a fast-growing, clump-forming succulent with fleshy, four-angled stems that are green to bluish-green in color.

These stems often feature small, soft teeth along their edges.  It typically grows up to 12 inches tall, with clumps spreading up to 18 inches wide.

Its compact size makes it an excellent choice for container gardening, rock gardens, or as a focal point in a succulent arrangement. 

The Stapelia grandiflora flowers are its crown jewel. The star-shaped blooms are velvety in texture, with colors ranging from reddish-brown to maroon, often with lighter markings that enhance their beauty.

While the scent is reminiscent of decaying matter, it plays a crucial role in attracting flies for pollination. The flowers are a marvel of nature, with their intricate patterns and textures that mimic carrion to perfection. 

When it comes to care, it thrives in bright, indirect light to the full sun, though it benefits from some shade during the hottest parts of the day.

It prefers well-draining specialized succulent soil, opens in a new tabGo to soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media to prevent root rot. In the spring and summer, during the growing season, water your plant deeply but allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Fertilize with a diluted, low-nitrogen fertilizer once a year during the actively growing period.

When growing indoors, it prefers warm temperatures and does best when kept between 70-85°F.

In outdoor settings, it is suitable in USDA zones 9-11, where winters are mild.

Avoid overwatering in cooler months, as the plant becomes dormant and requires minimal moisture. 

The Giant Toad Plant can be propagated through stem cuttings.

Allow the cuttings to dry and callous for several days before planting them in well-draining soil.

Keep the cuttings in a warm, shaded area and water sparingly until roots develop. Once established, they can be transplanted into individual containers or garden beds. 

According to the ASPCA, Stapelia grandiflora is considered non-toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and other pets. This makes it a safe choice for households with animals, provided the unusual scent of the flowers does not deter indoor placement. 

Key Takeaways

  1. This drought-tolerant plant can survive extended periods without water, making it ideal for low-maintenance gardening.
  2. Its star-shaped blooms are strikingly unique, resembling large, velvety starfish.
  3. The carrion-like scent of its flowers plays a critical ecological role by attracting flies for pollination, showcasing a unique adaptation to their native habitat.
  4. This plant thrives in high temperatures and intense sunlight, making it an excellent choice for arid and desert-like climates.
  5. Stapelia grandiflora is naturally resistant to most pests, requiring minimal intervention to maintain its health and appearance.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the Stapelia grandiflora is a botanical marvel, combining stunning aesthetics with fascinating ecological adaptations. Its unique starfish-like flowers and resilience in challenging conditions make it a standout choice for succulent enthusiasts. While its scent may be unconventional, the beauty and intrigue of this plant more than compensate. Whether in a rock garden or as part of an indoor collection, the Giant Toad Plant is a conversation piece that never fails to impress.

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SKU: 15470611339

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4.3 ★★★★★
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D. Vanhoose
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Toy, HUGE, small dog loves,
Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: X Large (Pack of 1)
For the price this is my favorite toy! My 4 lb Chihuahua LOVES this thing. He is smaller than it by a long shot, yet he loves to parade this around, showing how big he is and can handle this huge GATOR. LOL. Friends come up to the porch, and he runs back to grab his GATOR to bring it up for them to see. Only thing with these toys - for my dog - we have several of these he loves - he cannot make them squeak. He jumps on them, chews on them, but just doesn't have the power. That being said, think about it, he loves the things, I mean LOVES. Sleeps with them, parades them out, fights with them when he's alone, has a great time - .... Evidently, it's me - I MISS THE SQUEAK! I watch him, and root for him, and every now and then (rare), I hear he got a squeak. Still, he doesn't care! So.... interactive time! I go out and play with him and Mr. GATOR, and I make it squeak, and we all have EXTRA fun. Note, my little guy is what they call an EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE CHEWER. He chews in his sleep (kidding). He's really a tough chewer. He however, uses these more for wrestling, and attacking, and carrying around and sleeping on, etc. So none of ours have tears in them, though he does attack and chew all of it - I think these products are super wonderful, and I have to buy several more, like the hide-a-toy ones (beehive, squirrel, etc.) because I know the quality, I know my Chihuahua loves them to pieces - while he hasn't actually been able to render them in pieces! Win-win for us. You decide what your dog is like. Mine has his snoopy blanket and a huge victory in his mind over this large GATOR - his friend all day long.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2012
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Verified Purchase
Cam D
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Great Toy, But Not Durable
Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: X Large (Pack of 1)
I bought this toy for my five-month-old American Eskimo dog, and he loved it! My dog isn't a big squeaker fan, but he had so much fun with this toy. He played with it nonstop for about an hour, and it was so fun to see him enjoying his toy. Unfortunately, I had to take it away from him because after a while, he was trying to rip out the ridges that line the alligator's back. He managed to rip out two already and was working on his third. I'm afraid that out of boredom, he will try to tear off the rest of the ridges and then the alligator's teeth and claws. I think that I will have to snip off all of the small pieces before giving this toy to my dog again. Even though the toy didn't stay intact for longer than 30-45 minutes, I don't regret buying it. It instantly caught my dog's attention and kept it. This is a good toy. It has 16 squeakers and would be a good cuddle toy since it's soft and big. This toy is longer than my dog! It's about 30 inches long!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2011
D
Verified Purchase
Dawn Maynor
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Holy Smokes, I Need Sound-Blocking Headphones
Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: 2X-Large (Pack of 1)
This summer I bought the smaller version of this alligator squeaky toy for my large malamute-mix named Rascal. He's a big BIG puppy with an enormous amount of energy. Squeaky toys drive him crazy and he can't get enough of them. The more squeakers the more hyper he becomes. I started looking for the perfect Christmas present for him and caught sight of this little guy. Couldn't pass him up. 32 squeakers! Rascal would faint with excitement. This toy is a little longer than 4 feet long- which is about how long my dog is. It's by far the largest toy he's ever gotten. The head has a rattle in it. And the long body has 32 squeakers individually sewn into their own pocket- so even once he has chewed one of the noise-makers out, he still has many more to go. A few of the squeakers came defective, but I suppose that should be expected when so many noisy parts are involved. I don't think he noticed. The enormous amount of racket he made with the rest of them kept him busy enough. The second I gave him this toy he bounced around like any kid would on Christmas. Excited as heck. He spent a few good hours flinging the toy up in the air, running around the house and yard with it, and just laying around trying to chew each of those noisy things out from the body. He hasn't managed to get any of the squeaker toys out yet- it's been three days of constant play. He spends a few good hours on it each day. The fabric is getting kind of slobber-soaked, but that's presumable with dog toys. His dark black hair also easily sticks to this fabric, so it's beginning to look a lot dirtier than it actually is. But I'm sure he'll destroy it before my inner neat-freak feels the need to clean it. My biggest concern are the felt teeth and claws on the toy. They can easily be torn off and swallowed by the dog. If you want to eliminate that, prior to giving your dog the toy- just take a pair of scissors and cut them off. I just monitored my pup closely and took away the pieces once he removed them. Aside from the felt pieces and the fact the toy attracts hair- I think this was by far one of the best investments I've made for my dog. It's huge, keeps him entertained, and makes plenty of noise! I'm debating buying sound-blocking headphones before I purchase another toy like this again. Very noisy! But he loves it to death, and that makes it all worthwhile. Highly recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
P
Verified Purchase
Paige
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
My dog’s favorite toy
Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: 2X-Large (Pack of 1), Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: 2X-Large (Pack of 1)
This is my dog’s favorite toy! She carries it around everywhere and loves the squeaker. It’s a great size and keeps her entertained for a while. Holds up pretty well too, especially for how much she plays with it.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
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Verified Purchase
Jennifer Kalstrom
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
"Gator" under supervision for husky pup is loads of fun for her.
Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: X Large (Pack of 1), Color: Squeaker Matz Gator, Size: X Large (Pack of 1)
Fun loving hyper 7 month old female husky whose an aggressive chewer loves her "Gator". She loves the squeakers, does chew on any & all parts of her toy as she like many textures from soft/fuzzy to hard. 1st Gator we got her lasted a few months. She did chew threw a good amount, it did get dirty & most of the 16 squeakers were missing but I saved like 5 of them & sowed them back in. Once she started chewing thru the head & into the stuffing we ordered a replacement & she's so happy. I have 1 picture of the Gator though it might not look like it's done it was. Zero squeakers remaining, head has 1/2 stuffing removed, torn stitches but not enough where the body could come apart. She managed to eat the stuffing but she was not hurtful & we were able to stop her each time. I recommend "Gator" w/ supervision if you have an aggressive chewing pup. It's durable enough for some tugging & "fetch". It advertised "encourages digging" @ the squeaker but she didn't. She tugged, chomped' "fetch" & whipped the toy w her head but had a blast every time. She actively searches for Gator when she wants to play w/ her toys. 16 squeakers.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2021

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