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Black Bells

Stapelia leendertziae (sta-PEL-ee-uh leen-DERTZ-ee-ay)

Family: Apocynaceae Non-native

Black Bells is a succulent plant in the dogbane family native to South Africa in tropical dry shrubland and rocky areas. The stems are pale green, pliant, quadrangular and slightly furrowed. The flowers are deep maroon star-shaped campanula type flowers that are pollinated by flies. They may repeat bloom throughout the season. the clumps of this columnar plant will gradually expand and can be divided Grow this plant outdoors in the summer but bring in during the fall and winter. Make sure the pots have many drainage holes and use soils appropriate for succulents and cacti. Do not overwater. Provide with bright light.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 33 attributes.

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Fills a similar niche Euphorbia polygona 'Nova' Kalanchoe Tradescantia pallida

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Houseplant; Succulent
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
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
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Erect
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Deep maroon red cup-shaped / campanulate or more open in a star-shaped flower. May repeat bloom as a house plant.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Erect, pale green or reddish quadrangular and slightly furrowed stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa and Zimbabwe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Garden tags
#interiorscape #succulent #maroon flowers #houseplant #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #container plant #drought tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Drought; Dry Soil
Propagation
Division; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.