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Stapfiella muricata Plant Care
Stapfiella muricata Staner
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
With its striking deep purple leaves, Stapfiella muricata is a visually captivating plant that hails from the tropical regions of South America. Plant collectors are drawn to this species for its unique coloration and rareness in cultivation.
Every 10–14 days
Bright indirect light
60–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Stapfiella muricata?
Water Stapfiella muricata every 10–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it bright indirect light. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 2 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Stapfiella muricata Native To?
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Stapfiella muricata?
Stapfiella muricata (Stapfiella muricata) belongs to the Passifloraceae family within the Stapfiella genus. Stapfiella muricata is native to Zaïre, Africa. Stapfiella muricata is also known as Thorny Stapelia, Carrion flower.
Stapfiella muricata displays a vining, climbing perennial growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Stapfiella muricata produces showy and colorful trumpet-shaped flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Stapfiella muricata?
Stapfiella muricata requires watering every 10–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 10–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Stapfiella muricata Need?
Stapfiella muricata thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Stapfiella muricata in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect light
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Stapfiella muricata Prefer?
Stapfiella muricata grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Stapfiella muricata prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Stapfiella muricata?
Well-draining, rich loamy soil with added perlite for improved drainage. Good drainage is essential for Stapfiella muricata to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Stapfiella muricata?
Feed Stapfiella muricata every 2 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 2 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Stapfiella muricata?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Stapfiella muricata?
Stapfiella muricata can be propagated through stem cuttings, air layering, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to african violet plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Stapfiella muricata Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Stapfiella muricata, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Stapfiella muricata?
Stapfiella muricata is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Stapfiella muricata is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Stapfiella genus — compare its care with other Stapfiella species on PlantoScan.
Stapfiella is part of the Passifloraceae plant family — browse all Passifloraceae genera and species.
Stapfiella muricata thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Stapfiella muricata Staner, family Passifloraceae (first published in Ann. Soc. Sci. Bruxelles, Sér. B 58: 106 (1938)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Stapfiella muricata, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: AI-generated illustration (labelled on the image).
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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