Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

By Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener ^SM volunteer of Durham County (aka the Accidental Cottage Gardener) Images by Marcia Kirinus unless stated otherwise.

It appears that Fall has fallen, or at least dropped in for a spell. Speaking of fallen, we finally got some much-needed precipitation. Since it was the first significant amount since July, it was very welcomed by the Accidental Cottage Garden.

A lot of the plants have given up flowering for the year, but several ain’t got no quit in ’em.

The zinnias (Z. elegans) and cosmos (C. bipinnata & C. sulphureus) have been magnificent all summer. They were looking a little peaked in June, but have bloomed their little hearts out since the July deluges. Some of them are in danger of being overtaken by some cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), which is fine because I do love the little pure-red flowers.

A vibrant cluster of zinnia flowers in various shades of pink and peach, surrounded by lush green leaves.

Close-up of vibrant orange flowers with green leaves in a garden setting.

From left to right: Zinnia, (Zinnia elegans) Sulpher Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus)

There are some orange coneflowers/black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta ) still gracing us with their yellow-orange vibrance, and a lone balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is trying to hold up the blues.

Close-up view of bright yellow flowers against a blue sky, with green foliage in the background.

Close-up of purple bell-shaped flowers with white stamens, surrounded by green foliage.

From left to right: Black-Eyed Susan, (Rudbeckia hirta) and Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)

It has an abundance of assistance from the plethora of hardy ageratum/blue mist (Conoclinium coelestinum, formerly known as Eupatorium coelestinum) blossoms.

Delicate clusters of light purple flowers on green foliage, set against a blurred garden background.

Blue Mist Flower, (Conoclinium coelestinum)

There is a smattering of purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) still in bloom. Over the last couple of years, the goldfinches (Spinus tristis) (See, I am not a one-trick pony) have decided that three purple coneflowers were not enough, so they liberally (not in a political sense) sowed seeds around the yard. Now there are numerous purple coneflowers and numerous goldfinches. Everybody wins.

Oh, wait. This is supposed to be a gardening calendar. Heh. I may have gotten carried away (In your dreams!) Here at last is the calendar.

LAWN CARE

Keep leaves from accumulating on newly seeded or overseeded lawns.

Keep those same lawns moist until germination, then be sure they get 1” of water per week, ½” per watering.

Continue mowing cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, perennial rye) at 3½” to 4”.

FERTILIZING

We are essentially done here except for spring-flowering bulbs (daffodils, tulips, crocuses, etc.). Incorporate a little balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or equivalent) into the soil in and around the planting hole.

Store leftover fertilizer in a dry place for the winter.

PLANTING

FALL IS FOR PLANTING! It’s the truth in this part of the world. It is especially true for containerized and B&B (balled and burlapped) nursery material like trees and shrubs. Planting them now gives them the opportunity to grow sufficient roots to withstand our now-inevitable summer dry spells.

Want some color through the winter? Think pansies. This hardy member of the Viola genus will cheerily grace your yard with an almost endless display of delightful color throughout the winter. The sooner you plant them, the more able they will be to survive the coldest North Carolina nights. One caveat: deer find them irresistible. They’re like dessert after a hearty meal of azaleas.

A vibrant display of purple and white pansy flowers in full bloom, surrounded by green foliage.

Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) start blooming in late fall through winter and into the cool part of spring.

Spring-flowering bulbs should be planted this month. They need a period of cold before sprouting.

Peonies can be planted/transplanted now.

If you are not planting a fall veggie garden, consider planting a cover crop such as red clover (Trifolium pratense) or winter rye (Secale cereale). These plants are nitrogen-fixing (they add nitrogen to the soil) and can be tilled into the garden in the spring. Win, win, win.

Do you have a cold frame? Now is the ideal time to plant a salad garden to keep you in greens all winter. Leaf lettuces, green onions, spinach, radishes & carrots will keep you eating healthy ’til spring.

PRUNING

Wait until after a killer frost (which used to come in October, but may no longer arrive until November. Climate change. Adapt or find a good therapist.).

After said frost, it will be time to finish cleaning out the perennial garden. Cut them back to an appropriate height, which may be all the way to the ground. Some plants have a “best” height, and sometimes you get to decide (or guess).

Root-prune any shrubs or trees that you want to move in the spring.

SPRAYING

Hopefully, by now most of the pests have gone into overwinter mode. There are a couple that you can still battle with.

Lace bugs, especially on azaleas and pyracantha, can be active all winter whenever the leaf-surface temperature suits them. The other treatable pests are the scale insects found most often on euonymus and camellias, though they will occasionally find other plants to their liking. I had some on a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) in a previous garden.

Close-up of green leaves with visible white powdery mildew on the surface.

Close-up of a green leaf infested with white pests, showing damage and residue.

From left to right:
Azalea lace bugs (tephanitis pyrioides) are aggressive sucking insects that cause leaf stippling or blotching. Left: Tea scale (Fiorinia theae), a common sap-sucking insect that attacks camellias, hollies, and related plants. Image credit: Blake Layton, Mississippi State University

Both of these pests can be treated with a horticultural oil that will smother all the stages of their life cycle.

PROPAGATION

Are you starting new plants from cuttings? Be sure to check them at least twice a month for overall health and vigor. Water as needed. (That’s PRN for the medical gardeners out there.)

If you are one of the fortunate few with a rhubarb patch, now is a good time to divide the plants. It really prefers colder climes than USDA Zone 7. Rhubarb is a favorite in this house, but ain’t no way we’re movin’ north far enough to grow it. Been there. Done that and did NOT get the T-shirt.

OTHER FALL-APPROPRIATE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Besides snow skiing and outdoor ice hockey, what isn’t appropriate for a delightful October day?

OK, I’ll limit the list to gardening activities (mostly).

Make a compost pile out of the inevitable leaf collection in your yard. The landfill doesn’t need them.
GET A FREE SOIL SAMPLE NOW! There is a monetary charge for them between November and April.
Clean and fill bird feeders.
Clean out any unoccupied birdhouses to get them ready for winter borders.
Dig up tender summer-flowering bulbs (gladiolas, dahlias, caladiums, etc.) and store them in a cool, dark place where random rodents can’t access them.
Clean and lubricate lawn and garden equipment that won’t be used again until next season.
Go for a hike in the woods. The Eno River is especially lovely in the fall.
Fire pits and s’mores come to mind. (I said mostly garden stuff.)
Find some kids and carve pumpkins (around the fire pit with s’mores and hot chocolate).
Enjoy the crispness of October ’cause it’ll be cold soon.

Happy October, y’all!

Resources and Additional Information

Fact Sheet from NCSU on Lace Bug

Fact Sheet from NCSU on Camelia Scale

Caring for Pansies in the Landscape

Edited by Marcia Kirinus, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SMvolunteer of Durham County

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-8bK

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 7b – 8a USDA Hardiness Zones. 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 its 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 species 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.