Unusual, Cool and Unique Plants With Weird Flowers

The plant world is full of bizarre, otherworldly flowers that look like they’re straight out of a science fiction movie. From funky shapes and patterns to odd colors and textures, some flowers are just plain weird!

If you’re looking to grow something truly unique and conversation-starting in your garden, this guide will showcase some of the coolest plants with strange, unusual blooms. You’ll find pictures of each weird flower along with facts about its origins and growing requirements. Get ready to be inspired by nature’s most eccentric botanical wonders.

Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri)

As its name suggests, this extraordinary flower resembles little black bats suspended from whisker-thin stems! The “bat wings” are actually upright bracts protecting a small dark center flower.

Native to tropical Asia, bat flowers grow from a corm similar to gladiolus bulbs. Provide moist, well-draining soil, bright indirect light, and consistently warm temps for the corms to sprout and bloom. The bizarre bat flower display only lasts a few days but is truly a sight to behold.

Parrot Flower (Impatiens psittacina)

This exotic tropical certainly lives up to its name with bright red blossoms shaped just like squawking parrot heads! The hooked “beaks” appear to open and close on slender stems lined with glossy green leaves.

Native to Southeast Asia and India, parrot flowers need warm temperatures, high humidity, and filtered sunlight to thrive. Grow them in well-draining soil and keep them consistently moist. The unusual flowers only last a day but wake up looking “reborn” each morning.

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Shaving Brush Tree (Pseudobombax ellipticum)

When in bloom, this fluffy tree looks like it’s covered in thousands of tiny shaving brushes! The powder puff flower heads are actually dense clusters of slender stamens in shades of pink, orange, red, or white.

Native to the tropics of South America, shaving brush trees are hardy to about 30°F so they can be grown in very warm climates like Florida or Southern California with protection during cold snaps. The fuzzy blooms last for months starting in late spring.

Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

True to its name, the “Queen of the Night” flower only blooms at night for a brief few hours. But during that time, it unfurls into one of the most magnificent and fragrant white blooms you’ll ever see!

This unusual succulent orchid cactus is native to Mexico and needs very bright light to bloom well. Give it free-draining soil and only water when completely dry. The huge 8-12 inch flowers appear in waves from late spring to fall, scenting the evening air with an intense lemon perfume.

Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

We all know the iconic Venus fly trap with its jaw-like leaves that snap shut on unsuspecting insects, but did you know it produces a small, delicate white flower?

Native to the wetlands of North and South Carolina, Venus fly trap leaves close tight at night or when prey lands on their inner hairs. During spring, an odd but cute cluster of 4-7 white blooms may appear on tall stalks. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide full sun.

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Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum)

Also known as titan arum or stinking corpse lily, this massive plant produces one of the largest, rarest, and smelliest flowers in the world! The pungent bloom can grow 6-8 feet tall and several feet wide.

The fleshy red interior mimics the look of rotting meat with a stench to match, hence the name “corpse flower.” Native to the rainforests of Sumatra, blooming events only happen every 7-10 years so it’s an incredible sight. It requires warm temps, high humidity, and rich soil to thrive.

Swamp Lily (Crinum americanum)

This unique Florida native is a true showstopper when it blooms with large, spidery white and red flowers. Each blossom can reach 5-8 inches wide with sprawling petals and bright red tendrils.

Hardy swamp lilies thrive in standing water or consistently wet boggy areas in full sun. Once established, they require zero care and multiply readily, producing waves of strange blooms. The broad arching green leaves add structural, tropical interest too.

Copperlily (Habranthus robustus)

The copperlily’s weirdly beautiful burnt orange trumpet flowers are sure to catch your eye! Native to Argentina, these unique blooms feature ruffled edges and are often streaked with burgundy on the outer petals.

Copperlilies go dormant underground like daffodils and need at least 6 hours of direct sun to bloom well in spring. Plant the bulbs in well-draining soil and don’t overwater in winter. They also reseed readily if you want more unique orange flowers year after year.

Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia gigantea)

Sometimes called the “pelican flower,” Dutchman’s pipe vines produce the most bizarre tube-shaped blooms imaginable. The huge 8-12 inch calyx flowers resemble twisting, gaping bird beaks lined with deep burgundy interiors.

This tropical South American vine needs warm, humid conditions to bloom. The weird flowers emit a foul odor of rotting meat to attract carrion flies for pollination. Allow the vines to scramble up a sturdy structure and enjoy the conversation-starting floral display!

Voodoo Lily (Amorphophallus species)

There are several varieties of voodoo lily, or “devil tongue” flowers, and they’re all just as bizarre as their cousin the corpse flower. The flowers emerge from underground bulb-like tubers.

At first a single fleshy purple-black spike protrudes menacingly. Then a frilled, pleated spathe unfurls around the “tongue,” resembling some sort of alien life form! Different species vary in size, scent, and shade of red or purple. Warm, shaded conditions and consistently moist soil help the tubers thrive.

With blooms resembling everything from bats and birds to fleshy tongues and alien creatures, these weird flowers are sure to spark conversation in any garden or windowsill! Many of the strangest flowers hail from tropical regions where intense competition means plants have to look unique to attract pollinators.

Growing unusual plants with peculiar blooms can be a fun hobby and conversation starter. Just be aware that many have very specific cultivation needs depending on their native habitats. Providing the right balance of warmth, humidity, light, and soil conditions is key to encouraging their freaky flowers to emerge as nature intended.

As always, never take plants from the wild and purchase only from reputable nursery sources to preserve rare species. With a little research and care, you can cultivate your own collection of the weirdest, wackiest, most bizarre blooms around!