Stapelia gigantea is a very variable species with the largest flowers in the genus ranging from 100-400 mm in diameter. It is the most widely north-south distributed species and occurs in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It grows in many habitats and may form clumps of 1-2 m in diameter.

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Stapelia gettliffei is native to the warmer, dry, sandy parts of the Limpopo River catchments in southeastern Botswana, the northern parts of South Africa, southern Zimbabwe, and just over the border into Mozambique to the east. It usually grows in low-lying areas in shaded situations, often with other stapelias of the same localities.

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Stapelia kwebensis is the most widely distributed in an east-west direction, from Kaokoveld (northern Namibia, southern Angola ) through the Kalahari in Botswana, eastwards in the northernmost parts of South Africa, and in Zimbabwe. Plants usually grow in flat, rocky areas, in the open or below bushes. The stems are bright green, short-toothed with erect, prominent rudimentary leaves. Natural hybrids appear infrequently. Flowers are small, carried on short pedicels near the apex or in the middle of the stem and vary in coloration from yellow-ish to green to brown or dark red. Plants produce their evil-smelling flowers from December to May. The stems are slender and pale green, with the area between the ribs darker. The first plants were discovered on the Kwebe Hills (south of Lake Ngami ) in northern Botswana, hence the specific epithet. It is difficult to cultivate under humid and wet summer rainfall conditions.

Stapelia olivacea flowers are small, almost flat, with white hairs along the margins. The colour is very variable. Apparently darker maroon-red flowers usually emit a strong, offensive odour of excrement, but the greenish flowers have a mushroom-like smell that is more pleasant. The stems are greyish along the flanks, with the grooves in between a darker green, sometimes purplish. The stems form attractive, neat clumps about 100 mm high. The epithet refers to the olive-green colour used in the first painting of this species.

Stapelia engleriana is a South African endemic, widely distributed in the drier areas of the southwestern Karoo between Laingsburg, Beaufort West and Prince Albert. If these stapelias are sheltered by other plants, they can become up to 300 mm tall. The characteristic thick, square, prostrate to rhizomatous stems are easily identifiable. The lobes of the flowers are folded back completely, giving the flowers a round, button-shaped appearance. The flowers are purple-brown to red-maroon, about 25 mm in diameter and sometimes last for more than a week. It is generally a less attractive plant with an untidy habit due to new growth starting from points where the stem has been damaged or broken.

Stapelia unicornis is confined to the southern parts of the Lebombo Mountains in South Africa (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal), Mozambique and Swaziland. Plants grow on shallow soils, ledges and rocky outcrops. The pale green stems form stout clumps, rarely higher than 100 mm. The flowers are pale green-pinkish and about 100 mm in diameter. The centre of the flower is almost bowl-shaped. A species closely related to S. gigantea, but with smaller flowers that are decisively bowl-shaped and with different inner corona lobes. Plants are relatively easily cultivated.

Stapelia leendertziae stems are darker and dull green compared to those of S. gigantea and S. unicornis. Flowers are produced at the base or in the lower half from new branches. This species was named after Miss Reino Leendertz, the first official botanist employed at the Transvaal Museum and who was the first to collect this species near Heidelberg in 1909. Flowering time is November-January. It is readily cultivated and can withstand a fair degree of frost. Known as aaskelk, aasklok or rooiaasblom (Afr.).

Stapelia schinzii is found in Namibia and southern Angola. Three varieties are recognised, the typical one only occurring in Namibia. The plants are large and robust, and sometimes spread for up to 1 m, stems arising from a short horizontal base. The stems are mostly purple-mottled and up to 60 mm tall. Compared to the stems, the dark red to maroon flowers are relatively large (up to 120 mm in diameter). They have elongate corolla lobes, fringed with vibratile, purple, club-shaped hairs. This is the species with the largest flowers in Namibia and is closely related to the threatened S. pillansii.