Stapeliads are one of the most interesting groups of succulents. The diversity in shape, colour, size and smell make them an enticing group to collect and grow. The genus Orbea, which is placed in the Apocynaceae family, has beautiful flowers and is one of the easier groups to grow successfully. Even sterile plants with their purple-blotchy stems against various shades of green backgrounds are very attractive. In a rockery, mats of the plants among exposed rocks give a good backdrop for other accent plants such as euphorbias and larger aloes. Apparently not used medicinally, Orbea is mainly of horticultural value and, like most stapeliads, the plants are greatly sought after by succulent collectors and are grown and exchanged world-wide.

Orbea hardyi is endemic to the northern parts of South Africa, from the Soutpansberg in Limpopo to about Pelgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga, growing in deep shade and humus-rich, littered pockets of soil. It is extremely difficult to detect when not in flower. The sprawling, perennial, mottled stems can reach a length of 0.3 m, branching low down near the base. Flowering is in late summer, December to March, when one to four flowers are borne successively near the upper parts of the stems. The corolla tube is shallow-flattish, with an annulus. The corolla lobes are yellowish to cream-coloured with numerous red markings and spots, becoming lighter towards the centre. This species was named in honour of D.S. Hardy who was a well-known horticulturist of especially succulent plants.