15 Most Unusual Flowers in the World

Flowers make an ideal gift for a friend, family member or loved one.

In fact, there’s a bouquet to suit all occasions, but the chances are you’ve never seen any of the remarkable, rare, weird and wonderful flowers we’re about to share with you…many of which, will give each and every bouquet of daffodils, roses or carnations a run for their money.

15 of the Most Unusual Flowers in the World

1. The Titan Arum (Amorphophuallus Titanum)

Described as the mother of all flowers, this particular floral specie can grow to a massive three metres high.

It also boasts one of the foulest odours in the plant kingdom, which makes it a poor choice for the home.

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2. Sea Poison Tree (Barringtonia Asiatica)

These flowers look extremely similar to that of a cheerleader’s pom pom – especially when in full bloom.

Found off the coasts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, they’re popular with creatures such as moths and bats because of their sickly sweet smell.

3. Jade Vine (Strongylodon Macrobotrys)

The Jade Vine can grow to an astounding 20 metres high and looks a little like a gathering of heavy curtains. This particular specie is pollinated by bats, which appear fascinated by the luminosity of the vine’s flowers.

Found in the Philippines, the Jade Vine may not be around for much longer due to extensive deforestation in its native country. If you want to check it out, now is the time to do so.

4. Buddhist Udumbara

This extremely rare flower blooms every 3,000 years according to Buddist legend. It goes by the nickname of “an auspicious flower from heaven” and was originally discovered by a Chinese nun in 2010 in the shape of a 1 mm white flower, which she found nestled under her washing machine.

Although tiny, these blooms boast a noticeable scent.

5. Common Sundew (Round-Leaved Sundew)

Unlike many flowers, the Common Sundew boasts sticky hairs with glands instead of petals that look a little like fireworks.

The sticky goo glistens in the sun, and lures insects to the plant. Darwin wrote a total of 285 pages about this specie, describing a number of experiments he carried out on the plant.

6. Bat Face Cuphea (Cuphea Llavea)

Native to Mexico, this specie is named aptly and boasts a dark purple face and black lobes that resemble fierce bats. This colourful shrub makes an ideal addition to any garden, especially as the flowers last for a lengthy amount of time.

They enjoy high temperatures and tend to attract wildlife, including hummingbirds.

7. Sea Holly (Eryngium Maritimum)

Unlike traditional holly, Sea Holly boasts a series of steely blue flowers and metallic blue blooms.

They’re found on Britain’s sand dunes and sandy beaches. Very few other plants share their vivid icy colour.

8. Snake’s Head Fritillary

These unusually wild flowers boast magnificent chequered petals, which resemble snakeskin. Other nicknames for this plant include guinea-hen flower, chess flower, frog-cup, guinea flower and leper lily.

The name Fritillaria comes from the Latin word fritillus, which means dice-box, and refers to the chequered pattern on the flowers.

9. Torch Ginger (Etingera Elatior)

Ginger anyone? This remarkable red, waxy flower is aptly named and is found in many gardens in Costa Rica.

This particular specie is a welcome, tropical addition to any garden or landscape.

10. Snap Dragon and its Skull

Also referred to as the ‘Dragon Flower’, this unusual plant resembles a dragon’s head. When the flowers are squeezed, it looks as if a dragon is opening and closing its mouth. When the flower dies, it leaves behind a seedpod, which looks extremely similar to that of a skull.

In some cultures, the Snap Dragon flower is said to possess supernatural powers. Many once believed gardens brandishing this specie to be cursed by witchcraft. Others believe the plant is able to restore beauty and youthfulness when eaten.

11. Lithops Weberi (Lithops Comptonii)

Native to South Africa, the Lithops Weberi’s name is derived from the ancient Greek language. They’re extremely clever species in that they’re able to disguise themselves as pebbles and rocks, which helps them to avoid being eaten by predators or animals.

The plant itself sits very low to the ground and boasts one or more bulbous leaves. Each leaf has a translucent exterior, which allows light to enter the plant’s interior for photosynthesis to take place. When new leaves appear, yellow and white flowers begin to bloom.

During a drought or bad weather, the plant is able to immerse itself into the ground in order to shelter from the effects of the environment.

12. Night-Blooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

This flower is so celebrated; parties have been thrown in its honour, possibly because it blooms for just one night per year. On top of this, it’s famous for having one of the most magnetic and alluring fragrances of all floral species, which it emits from trumpet shaped flowers.

Nicknamed the ‘Queen of the Night’, this is one of the more rare plants to live in the desert. In fact, due to its inconspicuousness and location (desert flats and washes between 3000 and 5000 feet), it’s rarely seen in the wild. If you’re lucky enough to view this flower, expect to see an array of waxy, creamy-white flowers with petals, which are often accompanied by a red-orange, short-spined elliptical fruit that measures just three inches long.

The root itself can weight between five and 15 pounds and is planted in dry sand.

13. Corpse flower (Rafflesia arnoldii)

The Corpse Flower is the world’s largest bloom. However, despite its magnificent size, it does have one downside – it smells of rotting flesh. Measuring three feet wide, it has no visible leaves or stem and is native to the Southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where it grows up to 1,000 metres above sea level.

14. Pitcher plant (Nepenthes spectabilis X ventricosa)

Some call this specie the ‘pitcher plant’, whilst others call it the ‘monkey cup’.

The reason behind this is because they resemble Mother Nature’s very own water bottle and are able to hold water in the tropical heat. However, this sweet syrup is extremely dangerous to small birds, insects and rodents as it captures and dissolves creatures that get too close.

15. Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedioideae calceolus)

This exquisite flower is so special that it had its own personal bodyguard at the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Nicknamed the ‘lady’s slipper’ due to its yellow petal, which looks a little like a shoe or a clog, it’s said to be one of the UK’s most unusual flowers.

Another fact about this specie is that it was rescued from extinction by scientists and is now protected by austere wildlife protection laws. The BBC once reported a Lady’s Slipper cutting could make up to an impressive £5,000.