Stapelia Grandiflora, also known as Starfish cactus, is a large impressive flower that opens for a short time, maybe only a day or two before this stinky and hairy blossom that attracts flies and then wilts. When I see the big pods that open with five petals, I know that in a day or two I will get to see the blossom open that is bigger than my hand. My cactus in a clay pot was dormant for many years and decided to start blooming after we moved inland a few years ago. It may be that it didn’t like living at the beach and loves the drier climate where we are now in east county of San Diego.