Pseudolithos cubiformis

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Pseudolithos cubiformis is one of the more iconic rare succulents we grow, inspiring a fanbase that collects little else and pulling in newcomers with its bumpy green epidermis and overall alien look. Like other members of the genus, and much of the Asclepiadaceae, it produces truly putrid flowers that radiate the stench of rotting garbage, luring flies and other carrion-seeking insects that pollinate the blooms while looking for something foul to eat. Thankfully, or perhaps not, these flowers are short-lived. Their ephemerality seems to only heighten the appeal, leading otherwise sensible people to eagerly anticipate the repulsive spectacle once or twice a year. The species is native to Somalia, where it grows near the historic city of Hargeisa, often sun-stressed to an orange tone that closely matches the iron-rich stones scattered through its habitat. Show more