The genus Piaranthus is placed in the Apocynaceae family. It falls within the tribe of plants known collectively as stapeliads. It is named from the Greek piar which means fat, and anthos which means flower and refers to the fleshy corolla. Vegetatively Piaranthus is indistinguishable from Duvalia when not in flower. This is due to their having the same habitat preferences, both being mat forming under host plants. For this reason in cultivation they are probably best grown in partial shade. This appears to be a very poorly understood and confusing genus subject to constant revision by various authors. They grow well in rockeries and pots.

Piaranthus punctatus has green to purplish-green stems that grow to 10cm tall. It has striking flowers that are sweetly scented, an attribute not shown in other Piaranthus species. They have white to pale yellow corollas with red and purple spots and stripes. Cultivation is relatively easy and similar to that for Huernia. Piaranthus prefer partial shade rather than full sun, mimicking their growth habit under shrubby vegetation. Flowering is induced by decreasing day length and most species flower relatively late in the summer or autumn. It is best sown in autumn.