How to Grow and Care for Lantern flowers

Zulu giant (Ceropegia gigantea) is a flowering plant species native to South Africa and Tanzania. Zulu giant is also known by the alternative latin name Stapelia gigantea. This species is commonly planted for ornamental purposes in subtropical zones, and grown indoors in temperate zones. It cannot tolerate low temperatures for long periods of time. Zulu giant attracts flies, which pollinate the plant after being attracted to the distinct rotting-flesh smell of its flowers.

String of hearts (Ceropegia collaricorona subsp. collaricorona) is an evergreen perennial hanging plant named for the heart-shaped, dappled green leaves that trail along the vine. Blooms from late summer to early fall with showy, tubular-shaped purple and cream-colored flowers. When grown indoors, it needs direct and indirect light. If not given enough light, the foliage will become sparse, but too much light can cause irreparable damage.

Native to South Africa, the starfish Cactus is not actually a cactus. Instead, it is a member of the milkweed family. Its star-shaped flowers resemble an open wound and give off the odor of roadkill, or carrion (which gives the plant its name).

The leaves of the string of hearts are subcordate, and remain a dark green year-round, with white patterns on their upper surface and a purple leaf back. The string of hearts has slender, soft vines that always extend out of its pot. This makes it suitable for stand-alone potting in hanging baskets, or for climbing, as well as for binding into different bonsai shapes.

Persian carpet flower (Ceropegia sordida) is a perennial, drought-tolerant cactus known for its unusual, stinky flowers. Persian carpet flower can grow in partial shade or full sunlight, so it makes a good houseplant if the odor is tolerable. This species grows in the wild in California and is pollinated by flies.