Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

By Melinda Heigel, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

Each week, our blog team brings you practical research-based articles about a host of topics, but sometimes we try to share the wacky, unusual, and unexpected joys in gardening. Enter the black bells carrion flower (Stapelia leendertziae), also commonly referred to as the carrion cactus, mooncup starfish, and starfish cactus).

Green succulent house plant with tall stems in a green pot.

Green succulent plant with tall rounded stems and its deep red flower shaped like a star.

(Left to right) Hard to believe that this humble-looking plant produces such a show-stopping bloom. This amazing flower is neither AI generated nor from the famous musical Little Shop of Horrors. Mine typically blooms late in the season (here it is in September 2025). Note its velvety inside and lush color. The flower smells faintly like rotten meat (yes, you read that right); it’s no surprise that flies provide its pollination services. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

I first encountered one of these plants years ago at a vendor booth at a garden conference and bought it at the urging of another plant nerd who said it had one of the coolest flowers they’d ever seen. It was pretty unassuming, and I wondered, “What’s all the fuss about?” But when it bloomed? WOWZA!

Black Bell Characteristics

Calling this plant a cactus is misleading; it’s technically a succulent.¹ Native to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Eswatini, this is a spineless, clump-forming fleshy plant. Its stems are spiky in appearance but slightly squared off and soft to the touch. This succulent isn’t hardy in our 8a USDA Hardiness Zone. If you plan to grow it outside, it’s best suited for Zones 10-11 where frost is not an issue. It’s very drought tolerant and prefers sandy soil. That’s hard to find in Central NC, so I recommend planting it in a container. It needs a growing medium made for cacti and succulents that is loose, chunky, and promotes fast drainage. You can easily find commercial mixes or mix your own.

This fairly petite specimen is a perennial coming in at roughly at 3-6″ tall and wide. You can grow this inside all year round or as an outdoor plant in the summer and as a “housemate” during cold months. While bright light is essential, carrion flowers can get too much direct sun. That can transform medium-to-light green stems to blotchy bronze and red. Think of it as a sunburn for its protection. I found some bright light in the morning and a little afternoon shade is best during its outdoor summer season.

Photo of tall finger-like stems of a succulent plant that are olive green to bronze with reddish tips. Other plants and trees are in the background.

Detailed shot of succulent with light green and bronze finger-like stems in a green plastic pot with small gravel as mulch. Potted plant is sitting on a table.

(Left to right) I kept my plant outside during this harsh summer of 2026, but it started to show signs of stress. When it got too much hot afternoon sun, it turned a sickly-green and bronze. When I moved it to a location with some afternoon shade, it slowly started to improve. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

The Brilliant Flower of Black Bells

One of the more unusual things about this flower is its scent: a faint smell of rotting meat. According to Temple University research, this fragrance is comprised of 31 scent compounds that mostly contain sulphur. Two other of the compounds are close to those of decaying rats. (Did I mention my dog loves to walk by this plant?) This scent entices flys for pollination (fly pollination is called myophily). Another similar plant you’ve likely heard of is the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanium)–a very large specimen with a legendary putrid perfume.

So why is this known as the black bell carrion flower? Take a look at the evolution of the flower as it opens and it will become apparent.

Fleshy green succulent potted in a green container with a small deep red flower bud. Its sitting on a wet outside deck surface.

In a green pot, bright green fleshy succulent stems with a large bell-shaped closed flower.

From bud, to bell shaped, to 5 ” wide “starfish-like” when fully opened, enjoy the journey as the flower emerges. Once it opens, the bloom fades quickly, often in just a matter of days. (Bottom right) These stunners are a study in texture: smooth and glossy on the outside and inside covered in tiny hairs (indicated by arrows). Some say this provides an excellent mimic for a dead animal as flies can lay eggs deep inside plant. The wrinkled surface only adds to its intrigue. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

I’ve read that this flower can bloom in the spring and then again in the late summer with one to two flowers per plant. I’ve had young plants that take up to three years to bloom while others bloom quicker. I’ve never enjoyed a spring flower, though. When they do bloom, my plants’ flowers arrive in late September to early October. That timing is just right: they are so fun to watch develop when a lot of traditional summer flowers begin to fade.

Black Bells Care

This is a pretty maintenance-free plant if planted in the appropriate soil mentioned above. It prefers to dry out in between waterings during the warmer months when it is actively growing. Too much water leads to root rot. Trust me, I know about that. Many growers recommend these plants should remain dry while overwintering in the house. I water mine lightly only and rarely indoors beginning in April or May when they are approaching an active growing season again. When it is time for it’s seasonal vacation outdoors, I introduce it to the elements slowly as not to overstress the plant.

It’s easy to propagate by cuttings or division. Scale, mealy bugs and mites are listed as potential problems for the plant, though luckily I haven’t experienced any such pests.

There are several other Stapelia species that produce chic, unique flowers, so I would encourage you to do some internet research. Below is another variety with a totally different flower I grew in 2018. May it rest in peace. So if I piqued your interest about this plant, you might be wondering where to source these. I’ve had luck at local nurseries from time to time as well as with online resources. While you won’t get blooms galore, the anticipation of these fascinating flowers is worth it.

A closeup of a star-shaped flower that is shaped like a starfish. It's white with pink striations. The stems of the succulent part are green and fleshy and seen in the background.

Another carrion flower called Zulu Giant (Stapelia gigantea) is equally breathtaking. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

Notes

What’s the difference between a succulent and cactus?

Resources and Additional Information

Flies and other lesser-known pollinators

Black Bells Carrion Flower

Other Late-blooming Flowers to Enjoy in the Fall

Creating and Maintaining an Indoor Succulent Garden

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By Laurel Babcock, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SMvolunteer of Durham County

Three bright yellow spicebush blooms on brown stem.

Yellow flowers of spicebush, Lindera benzoin. (Image credit: Phillip Bouchard CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

This is the next installment in our series, Native Notes, where we explore plants that strengthen local ecosystems and support biodiversity while adding beauty to our Durham County, NC landscapes.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

One shrub that I love to check on in my garden is spicebush (Lindera benzoin). It is a native shrub that brings beauty, fragrance, and wildlife value to my landscape with minimal maintenance. Spicebush belongs to the laurel family (Lauraceae) – the same family as sassafras, bay laurel and avocado. This shows in the plant’s wonderfully aromatic leaves, twigs and fruit. The Piedmont variety found in Durham County is Lindera benzoin var. pubescens.

Appearance

Spicebush is a medium-sized, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that typically reaches 6 to 15 feet tall and wide. The simple, alternate leaves are oblong with smooth margins. The broken twigs, fruit, and occasionally the leaves give off a lemony-spicy fragrance when crushed or broken, which explains the origin of the name. The Piedmont variety has slightly hairy undersides on the leaves and young twigs, sometimes visible only with a hand lens.

Though the small yellow blooms are fairly insignificant, they are among the earliest flowers in the NC spring and so offer an early food source for awakening pollinators. My spicebush starts blooming toward the end of March and lasts for about a week. The pale flower buds are distinctively ball-shaped and easy to spot on bare branches before the leaves emerge.

Spicebush shrubs are dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants. Male plants produce only pollen-bearing flowers. Female plants produce flowers that, if pollinated by a nearby male, develop into bright red berries in late summer to fall. Male flowers are typically fuller and have prominent yellow stamens, while female flowers are smaller and have a central pistil and fewer stamens. Most nurseries do not label their plants by sex, so if the berries are important to you, it’s best to plant several and observe them over time.

Comparison of male and female yellow spicebush flowers showing 4mm male blooms with anthers and stamens and 2mm female blooms with ovary, style and pistil.

Distinguishing features of male and female spicebush. (Image credit: Laurel Babcock)

Come fall, the foliage turns a clear, bright yellow, a lovely addition to the autumn garden. The high-fat red berries, which ripen in late August through September, are eaten eagerly by migratory songbirds as fuel for their fall journeys south.

Habitat and Distribution

NC distribution map of spicebush Lindera benzoin across 82 counties in North Carolina.

Distribution map from Vascular Plants of North Carolina website (Image credit: Laurel Babcock)

This species naturally occurs in the slightly acidic soils of forests, but spicebush also occurs in brown water swamps in higher elevations in North Carolina. It has been found throughout the mountains, Piedmont, and all but a few south-central counties in the coastal plain. It is deer-resistant and suitable for low areas, rain gardens, along wooded creeks, or swales. It is adaptable to a wide pH range and tolerates occasional flooding as well as occasional dry periods, making it a good choice for the variable Durham County weather. It spreads readily by root suckers but can be propagated by growing from seed by collecting ripe red berries in late summer or fall, by softwood cuttings, or by layering.

Bright red spicebush berries on a stem with green and yellowing leaves in the background.

Spicebush fruits and yellowing leaves approaching fall (Image credit: Matthew Beziat CC BY-NC 2.0)

Even if you don’t know the sex of your plant, you can still enjoy one of the most fascinating things about it: it is a critical host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus)! These caterpillars curl up in the leaves and mimic snakes (see false eyespots) for protection! They also change to a deep yellow color after they stop eating leaves.

Immature brown swallowtail caterpillar on green spicebush leaf host in background.

Mature green swallowtail caterpillar with yellow and black false eyespot markings against green spicebush leaf host in background.

Black swallowtail butterfly with white and blue wing markings on pink blooms with green leafy background.

From left to right: “Spicebush Baby” (Image credit: DrPhotoMoto CC BY-ND 2.0); “Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar” (Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark 1.0); Spicebush caterpillar after ending leaf consumption (Image credit: Laurel Babcock); “Spicebush Swallowtail female” (Image credit: Anita363 CC BY-NC 2.0).

Spicebush is a true native hero in the Piedmont. It brings four-season interest, supports native butterflies and birds, and thrives in the varied conditions found across central North Carolina. Whether you’re gardening on a city lot or stewarding a woodland edge, this is a plant that will reward you and your local ecosystem for years to come.

Resources and Additional Information

Lindera benzoin (Northern Spicebush, Spicebush, Spice Bush) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

NC Common Wetland Plants Guide: Lindera benzoin

Penn State Extension discussion of spicebush in rain garden settings: Rain Garden Plants: Spicebush

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Edited by Susan Sharp, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SMvolunteer of Durham County